Zimpapers WritersSCORES of people yesterday thronged provincial heroes acres to commemorate the 45th Heroes Day, paying tribute to the nation’s gallant sons and daughters for their supreme sacrifices in the liberation struggle.The main celebrations were at the National Heroes Acre, where President Mnangagwa was the guest speaker He called on the nation to continue fostering economic development and emancipation.As early as 6am, people started arriving at the national shrine.Families of heroes and heroines buried at the National Heroes Acre, members of the uniformed services and ordinary people, all converged with one objective; to commemorate sons and daughters who sacrificed for a free and independent Zimbabwe.At 10:40am President Mnangagwa arrived at the shrine amid cheers, song and dance from the terraces.It was not only a time to remember the fallen heroes, but to also celebrate the living ones.President Mnangagwa inspected the guard of honour and then paid respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.And when he took to the podium, his message was clear.He said just as the country’s forefathers had taken the bold decision to free the country from colonial bondage, the present generation has the mandate to work and ensure the country reaches economic empowerment.President Mnangagwa also conferred the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Commendation Award for Service in Human Capital Development to Dr Madeline Nyamwanza Makonese.A teenager, Inasem Chitutu from Bindura, received the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe for rescuing two children from a burning house.In an interview at the national shrine yesterday, Chitutu said: “I feel very proud of myself and also humbled for being conferred this award.“This is a lesson to me and every Zimbabwean that a hero lies in every one of us Everyone is capable of performing heroic acts that can save their community.”Families of the heroes buried at the shrine also took time to remember their loved ones.Among the families that visited the graves of their loved ones included that of former Vice President Joshua Nkomo, former Defence Minister Ernest Kadungure and former Youth Minister Border Gezi.At the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Charles Tawengwa led the proceedings, first inspecting a quarter guard, paying respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by laying wreath, then reading the President’s speech and visiting some graves at Warren Hills where over 1 500 liberators are laid to rest.Some of the widows who attended the celebrations at the Harare Provincial Heroes Acre included Gogo Bernadette Mutero (65) widow to the late Cde Cloudius Benz Mutero who died in February 2013, Gogo Pelagia Sedze (65) wife to the late Cde Leonard Sedze who died in 2013, among others.Ms Maidei Muzanenhamo, a relative to the late Cde Regina Matawu, hailed President Mnangagwa for supporting families of provincial heroes and heroines.“We are here to commemorate and express our happiness to the Second Republic for supporting us,” she said.Minister Tawengwa handed over 200 medals to outstanding people from various categories that included war collaborators, detainees, transport and passenger associations.Mbare Chimurenga Choir, Seke 1 High School, Kuwadzana 1 High School and the ZPCS brass band, provided entertainment.In Bulawayo, the provincial shrine was packed with service chiefs, civil servants, youths, families of fallen heroes and heroines and senior Government officials, including Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Albert Mavunga, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairperson Cde Cephas Ncube, Zanu PF Bulawayo Provincial chairperson Cde Jabulani Sibanda, Pelandaba-Tshabalala legislator Cde Joseph Tshuma, the city’s deputy mayor, Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, councillors and other dignitaries.The day began with people arriving as early as 7am Proceedings officially started at 11am with the arrival of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, who inspected a quarter guard mounted by members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) before reading President Mnangagwa’s speech.Cde Ncube, together with service chiefs and leaders from war veterans, ex-detainees and collaborators’ associations, laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before touring the graves with families of the fallen heroes.Entertainment came from local artists, including two young poets – Sinenhlanhla “Cde Sine” Sibanda, a Grade 5 learner at Mafakela Primary and Candice Moyo, who is in Grade 3 at Herentals Primary – whose moving recitals earned them cash tokens from impressed dignitaries.The Asa Group from Khami Maximum Prison and other arts groups also performed.Clr Ndlovu stressed the day’s unifying importance regardless of political affiliations.“It is very important that we celebrate this day regardless of our political affiliations
For example, I am from an opposition party, but I have five relatives who fought in the liberation war – three of whom have passed away, and two are still alive,” he said.Mrs Charity Sibanda, widow of the late Cde Gideon Sibanda, thanked the Government for tombstones, but appealed for widows’ pensions.In Mashonaland West, thousands of people including relatives of departed and living liberation fighters gathered at the Chinhoyi Provincial Heroes Acre to commemorate Heroes Day.Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo led proceedings by first inspecting a quarter guard, paying respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by laying wreath before visiting the graves of the 97 heroes buried at the shrine and speaking to family members.The remaining 28 of the 48-member visiting Namibian delegation attend the Heroes Day commemorations at the Chinhoyi Provincial Heroes Acre.Mr Damien Maghambye of Mukwe Constituency in Namibia, who is part of a Namibian delegation from Kavango East Region visiting Mashonaland West province, hailed Zimbabwe for erecting shrines to commemorate liberation fighters saying he would also take up what he has seen and apply it in Namibia when they also celebrate their heroes on August 26.Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Chairman Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka hailed the visiting Namibian delegation’s presence at the Heroes Day commemorations and the strong bond among liberation movements in SADC.Shiela Sithole, daughter of fallen hero Cde Sibongile Sithole who is buried at the shrine, hailed the province’s leadership and stakeholders for giving the Chinhoyi Provincial Heroes Acre a face-lift.In Mashonaland East, the commemorations were held at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Marondera where thousands gathered.People started gathering as early as 7am and by the time the event officially started, the shrine was already full.The commemorations officially kicked off when Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East, Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, arrived and inspected the quarter guard.He then read the 2025 Heroes Day Presidential speech, and laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.Later, he presided over the conferment of medals to war veterans and war collaborators for their sacrifice to free Zimbabwe.Some outstanding civil servants were also honoured for serving the nation diligently.Among those who attended the auspicious event was the family of Cde Rodrick Cephas Pepukayi Dzikiti, the first liberation hero to be buried at the provincial shrine in 1990.In Masvingo, hundreds of people thronged the Masvingo Provincial Heroes Acre to mark Heroes Day amid pomp and fanfare.The main celebrations in Masvingo were held at the provincial shrine in Hillside Extension suburb where 94 heroes and heroines are interred.Celebrations were also held at various shrines across Masvingo province’s seven administrative districts.Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira led the celebrations.He then led in the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.The crowd was then treated to entertainment before Minister Chadzamira led senior officials to meet relatives of those buried at the shrine.Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board national chair Retired Major General Gibson Mashingaidze, hailed the Second Republic for sprucing up the provincial shrine.National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe Masvingo regional director told Zimpapers of plans to fence the provincial shrine and build ablution facilities with running water.Plans are also in motion to erect permanent podiums and structures that will provide shed during official events and programmes.The celebrations were witnessed by service chiefs led by 4 Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Obert Tshuma, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Commissioner Mr Sternly Kondongwe, Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Robson Mavhenyengwa, permanent secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa and Masvingo mayor Mr Alec Tabe, among others.In Manicaland, thousands gathered at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Mutare and paid tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives for Zimbabwe’s freedom.Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza led the proceedings.The solemn provincial event drew participation from war veterans, uniformed forces, traditional leaders, schoolchildren and families of fallen heroes, some of whom travelled from as far as Chipinge and Nyanga.The ceremony included wreath-laying on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and on individual graves by relatives of the deceased cadres.Presently, 438 liberation war heroes and heroines are interred at the provincial shrine Of these, 363 are men, while 75 are women.Among those in attendance were families who make it a tradition to visit the shrine annually.Mrs Juliet Sande said her family had come to honour her late mother, Cde Alice Munyongani, who died in 2015.The event also featured an exhibition mounted by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), which displayed photographs and short biographies of the heroes and heroines buried at the site.Speaking at the exhibition, Acting Regional Director for the Eastern Region of NMMZ, Mr Lloyd Makonya, said the aim of the display was to document and highlight the contributions made by the fallen cadres.In Mashonaland Central, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Christopher Magomo, led the Heroes Day commemorations at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Bindura.He read the President’s speech before guiding the procession to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.The ceremony was attended by hundreds of people, including families of the liberation war heroes interred at the shrine.After the formal proceedings, Minister Magomo interacted with the relatives of the fallen heroes.Many attendees brought flowers to pay tribute to their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for Zimbabwe’s independence.In Matabeleland North, hundreds of people converged at the provincial capital, Lupane to commemorate the day.The large crowd was a mixture of young people, the elderly and children who started making their way to the provincial heroes’ acre from villagers across the district from 6am.Senior Government officials, Zanu PF Politburo and Central Committee members, traditional leaders and service chiefs were also in attendance.Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo read the President’s speech.In Matabeleland South, Minister of State Albert Nguluvhe led service chiefs, war veterans and political leaders in laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before visiting graves and interacting with families.Among those he interacted with were Zanu PF Politburo member, Cde Abedinico Ncube, whose late wife, Cde Tracy Ncube, is among the 41 heroes and heroines lying at Gwanda Provincial Heroes Acre.Minister Nguluvhe inspected the quarter guard before delivering the President’s speech.Entertainment came from the ZNA Band, Sabiwa Primary Traditional Dance group, Gwanda Prison Imbube troupe, and local artists.In Midlands, hundreds of people converged at the Gweru Provincial Heroes Acre to commemorate the day.From 8am, people started making their way to the provincial shrine from villagers across the province.Zanu PF Politburo members who included Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube and Central Committee members, traditional leaders and service chiefs, also attended.Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube arrived around 10am and inspected the guard of honour before reading President Mnangagwa’s speech.Minister Ncube went on to confer medals to liberation war heroes and heroines.Elsewhere, the River Valley Group held its annual Heroes Day commemorations in Shurugwi, led by chief executive officer Dr Smelly Dube.They hosted widows of the gallant sons who contributed to the liberation struggle.Share on FacebookPost on XFollow usSave
Originally published on Zimbabwe Herald
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