Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
EIGHT families of liberation war heroes yesterday unveiled tombstones at the graves of their fallen loved ones at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Nkulumane, while many others were busy sprucing up resting places in preparation for the upcoming Heroes Day commemorations.
Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day will be observed tomorrow and Tuesday respectively, with President Mnangagwa leading the nation in the commemorations.
The main events are set to take place at the National Heroes’ Acre and Rufaro Stadium in Harare, drawing thousands of attendees.
Meanwhile, all the other provinces will hold their own celebrations at designated venues nationwide.
Sunday News yesterday visited the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Nkulumane and observed families of the liberators have started sprucing up the graves by clearing grass, while eight families were erecting tombstones that were supplied by Government.
As of yesterday, a total of 1 127 liberation war icons now lie buried at the revered site that sits atop a hilly burial site in Nkulumane suburb.
The National Museum and Monument of Zimbabwe are the custodians of the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes’ Acre.
The provincial shrine was established in the early 1990s and the first hero to be buried there was Cde Reader Ncube on 23 December 1993.
The Provincial Heroes’ Acre also has an interpretive centre with photographs and textual narratives by historians for easier interpretations for visitors, such as schoolchildren, who tour the site as part of their educational projects.
Ms Cingeni Moyo, widow of liberation war hero Cde Metheus Dube who was laid to rest at the Provincial Heroes’ Acre in 2004 said she will finally find peace of mind now that a tombstone has been erected at her husband’s grave.
“My husband used to tell us stories of how during the liberation struggle they used to drink muddied water in streams and also chew tree barks and roots to keep hydrated. It wasn’t easy fighting the enemy and I have no doubt that the liberation fighters endured a lot of pain and sacrificed a lot to free the country from colonialism.
“Tonight I will sleep peacefully knowing that my husband’s grave now has a tombstone and I can bring my grandchildren to see where their grandfather is resting,” said Ms Moyo.
“The Government supplied the tombstone and my family was assisted by a team led by Senator Mpofu (Molly) to buy materials to erect the tombstone,” she said.
Bulawayo Senator, Cde Mpofu, is leading a committee that is assisting families of departed heroes and heroines who cannot afford to smarten graves of their loved ones.
The team has so far neatened up to 29 graves in the last two months and Sen Mpofu says more families are coming forward for assistance.
“Families and friends of our fallen liberators meet every year on Heroes Day to lay wreaths, mingle with senior Government leaders and fellow surviving cadres. On Monday the families who could not afford to erect tombstones will also be here at the provincial shrine to lay flowers on spruced up graves of their loved ones,” said Sen Mpofu.
“We set up a committee to look for the relatives of some of the fallen heroes and heroines whose graves were not in a good state, to try and understand the challenges they were facing in erecting the tombstones.
“The tombstones are supplied by the Government, but some of the families have financial challenges just to erect the tombstones and that is where we come in,” said Cde Mpofu.
Mrs Elina Ndlovu said her husband, Cde Sibusiso Ndlovu, died in 2008 and she could not afford to erect a tombstone.
“My husband’s grave is now in a beautiful state, thanks to the Government and Senator Mpofu’s team. It used to break my heart when I came to cut grass around his grave when it was surrounded by other graves with beautiful tombstones.
“My four children and grandkids are travelling from South Africa and Botswana to be with me on Heroes Day and we will all come here at the provincial heroes acre to celebrate my husband’s life,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
Bongani Ndlovu