adminGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Zanu-PF youths here have started upgrading the provincial heroes acre in honour of over 50 heroes and heroines whose remains are interred there.
The youths are putting a boom gate at the entrance to the shrine to improve security and a water tank to enhance water supplies.
The programme was being undertaken under the ambit of the Zimbabwe National Youth Service Graduates in Masvingo.
Zimbabwe National Youth Service graduates Masvingo district Commander Cde Peter Mazanhi yesterday said ruling party youths in Masvingo wanted to improve the state of the provincial shrine in honour of men and women buried there.
Cde Mazanhi said they decided to beef up security at the shrine in the wake of increasing cases of people and animals that were straying into the facility and compromising it, especially at night.
“We are on the verge of completing installation of a 2 000 litres water tank at the provincial shrine to augment existing water supply and make sure there is adequate water whenever people are gathered there either for state functions or for burying other fallen heroes and heroines,’’ he said.
“We have also mobilised financial and material resources to erect a boom gate to the shrine to reduce cases of people straying into the shrine that on the increase. In the near future we also hope to erect a fence around the Provincial Heroes Acre to improve security.’’
The ruling party youths have already spruced up the shrine by slashing tall grass and shrubs that was threatening to turn the facility into an eyesore.
“We felt duty bound to do something to preserve the legacy of the liberation struggle hence we saw it fit to start by sprucing up the shrine where our departed heroes and heroines were buried,” said Cde Mazanhi.
“We are also planning to erect a permanent shade where people will shelter during functions or burials. Plans are also afoot to install benches for people to seat.’’
Cde Mazanhi paid tribute to Zanu-PF Ward Six aspiring councillor Cde Wellington Mahwende for mobilising both material and financial resources to provide a face lift to the shrine.
“Cde Mahwende sources the 2 000 litres Jojo tank that we installed at the heroes acre and provided part of the materials that we are using to erect a boom gate to the facility,” he said.
“We are happy that he has also been providing food and other consumables to other Zanu PF youths who have been doing various tasks to spruce up the shrine.’’
Plans are also afoot to do the same at smaller shrines across the province.
Online Reporter