Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
As Zimbabwe marks National Heroes Day communities reflect on the cost of the liberation struggle, with residents saying the sacrifice made by fallen freedom fighters remains worthy.
The commemorations, held annually to honor those who died fighting for the country’s independence, have this year indicated who qualifies as a hero and how the nation should preserve the values the struggle was fought for.
Speaking to Zimpapers yesterday, Zanu-PF shadow legislator for Southerton constituency and founder of the Andrew Makahamadze Foundation, Cde Andrew Makahamadze emphasised that Zimbabwe’s independence and freedom were hard‑won sacrifices that continue to inspire national transformation.
He noted visible progress in infrastructure, industry, and agriculture as symbols of black empowerment.
“We are more than a million people now living in Harare, which never happened during Rhodesia — it was worth dying for, not to be dictated upon by a regime.
“With people like Madzibaba Wicknell showing us abundance of black power giving back to societies, we see transformation with Trababilas Interchange, development of roads, and the bold courage that long live our freedom and independence,”he said.
In his sentiment, Marondera East legislator Honourable Vimbayi Mutokonyi emphasised peace, stability, and grassroots empowerment as direct result of the sacrifices made by the nation’s heroes and heroines.
He said the heroes and heroines’ legacy must be respected and commemorated.
“The sacrifice which they made for the peace and the tranquility that we are witnessing right now in Zimbabwe. We are very grateful.
“Right now we are witnessing economic stability, where we see empowerment even at grassroots level. The youth, the women, the elder, everyone is being taken care of,”he said.
One of the residents interviewed, Mr Archibald Tanda said the liberation struggle was a sacrifice worth making and called on Zimbabweans to safeguard the principles it was built on.
“It was a sacrifice that was worth dying for,” he said, “We have to preserve these values, and we have to know that there are people behind them.”
Mr Tanda said institutions such as schools, colleges and universities played a significant role in the struggle.
He said these institutions deserve recognition alongside the fighters themselves, along with ordinary citizens who died in the uprising without ever taking up arms.
Another contribution came from Ms Faith Kanyemba who offered a different perspective, arguing that civil servants who mobilised resources and rallied support for the uprising have been left out of the recognition process.
“Civil servants were the ones who could get enough resources to mobilise more people for the uprising, and they should be recognised for that.
She said that under the Smith government, civil servants were paid enough to organise and educate people politically in informal settings, something he said fuelled the momentum of the struggle.
“A civil servant could walk into a bar with a group of friends, buy a crate of beer, and start talking politics — raising awareness.
“That is how institutions like education became powerful in sustaining the values of the struggle,he said.
They agreed that recognition for Zimbabwe’s liberation heroes should extend beyond those who fought on the frontlines, to the civil servants, educators and institutions that sustained the movement.
Mrs Fortunate Pangeti, a flower market vendor at Africa Unity Square said buying flowers to remember relatives who died in the liberation struggle is an important act of dignity.
She said as vendors they try to keep prices affordable so that everyone can take part in honouring the country’s heroes.
“It is important for people to come and buy flowers for their relatives who died during the liberation struggle.
“Sometimes they come without the money needed to buy a certain special flower, but at least we are reducing the price so that we can meet their needs to remember our heroes.
She added:”We are just working together as a country to keep this commemoration in reality.”
