Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND celebrated this year’s Heroes and Zimbabwe Defence Forces commemorations in style, with thousands of people from all walks of life converging at the provincial shrine and Sakubva Stadium respectively.
The Heroes Day commemorations held on Monday started with various local music and arts groups entertaining attendees, including drum majorette displays by Dangamvura High and Sheni Primary schools, traditional dance by Mutare Teachers’ College, performances by Two Keys Band, Sebvumba Marimba Group and the Jekenisheni Church.
Several wartime testimonies from living veterans also took the gathering down memory lane as the cadres gave chilling accounts of what they encountered during the protracted liberation struggle.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, then took to the podium to read the President’s speech before laying wreaths on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and conversing with relatives of heroes and heroines interred at the provincial shrine.
The theme of this year’s Heroes Day commemorations was: “Lest We Forget”.
On Tuesday, thousands of people thronged Sakubva Stadium in Mutare to commemorate the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day.
During the commemorations, Minister Mugadza inspected the guard of honour and delivered President Mnangagwa’s speech.
The commemorations were also attended by dignitaries from neighbouring Mozambique, who were in Manicaland on a solidarity visit to mark the two occasions.
The multitudes were kept on the edge of their seats throughout the programme as several entertainment groups performed, particularly the Zimbabwe National Army marching drills.
Clad in their Common Dress Number One attire, the ZNA marching drills were a marvel to watch. After the main proceedings, football matches featuring women and men teams kept the crowd entertained.
