Mnangagwa Honours Jairos Jiri12 August 2025 Mnangagwa Honours Jairos Jiri By A Correspondent– President Emmerson Mnangagwa has posthumously declared four national heroes and presented national flags to their families during this year’s Heroes Day commemorations The four honoured were human rights and disability rights pioneer Jairos Jiri, Brigadier-General (Retired) Lameck Francisco Mutanda, John Mbedzi, and Elos David Malandu Jairos Jiri: A Legacy of ServiceThe late Jairos Jiri is remembered as one of Zimbabwe’s most selfless humanitarians Born in 1921 in Bikita District, Masvingo Province, Jiri rose from humble beginnings to become a champion for the welfare of people with disabilities In 1948, he founded the Jairos Jiri Association, an organisation that transformed the lives of thousands of physically challenged and disadvantaged people through vocational training, education, rehabilitation, and housing Jiri’s work extended far beyond charity—he was instrumental in promoting social inclusion at a time when disability was stigmatised and neglected in colonial Rhodesia His initiatives, such as workshops, hostels, and training centres across the country, became safe havens for the marginalised His dedication earned him both national and international recognition, cementing his place as a towering figure in Zimbabwe’s social development history In recent years, however, Jiri’s family has faced hardship Earlier this year, his widow made a heartfelt public appeal for assistance, revealing that she was living in poverty despite her late husband’s lifelong service to the nation Her plight touched many Zimbabweans, sparking renewed calls for greater state and community support for the families of national heroes Heroes Day CommemorationsHeroes Day remains one of Zimbabwe’s most significant national events, a time to honour both the living and departed who contributed to the liberation and development of the country Upon arrival at the National Heroes Acre, President Mnangagwa inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Presidential Guard He was joined by Vice President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Colonel (Retired) Kembo Mohadi in laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier This year, the families of the four newly declared national heroes received national flags in recognition of their loved ones’ contributions Awards for Exceptional ServiceProfessor Vladimir Shubin, former Secretary of the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee and Head of the Africa Section of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union’s International Department, was presented with the Zimbabwe International Friendship Award for his role in supporting the country’s liberation struggle Inasem Chitutu, a teenager from Bindura who courageously rescued two children from a burning house, received the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe Dr Madeline Nyamwanza—the first female African medical doctor in Zimbabwe—was honoured with the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Commendation Award for Service in Human Capital Development for her pioneering work in healthcare These living heroes join more than two thousand veterans of the liberation struggle and outstanding citizens recognised this year As the nation celebrates its heroes, President Mnangagwa reminded Zimbabweans that the responsibility to build a prosperous, upper-middle-income society by 2030 rests with every citizen All Zim News is a central hub for all things Zimbabwean, curating news from across the country so no story is missed Alongside aggregation, our team of nationwide reporters provides real-time, on-the-ground coverage Stay informed and connected — reach us at admin@allzimnews.com Source: ZimEye Source: Zimeye
