All set for Heroes Day fete Many gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe left the comfort of the fruits of their personal accomplishments in life to go and fight for the liberation of the country

national-heroes-acre-newAbigail Mawonde and Talent Gore—
All is set for the Heroes Day commemorations on Monday where thousands of Zimbabweans are expected to converge at provincial and district centres across the country to honour heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country. Addressing a press conference yesterday, Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa said people will be ferried from various pick-up points to the national shrine.

“We are going to have 25 buses for Harare for the two days (Heroes and Defence Forces Days) and people are going to be picked from their usual pick-up points,” she said.

“As for other provinces we know very well that they will be having their commemorations there, but we have some who would want to come over here so that they can join His Excellency, our President Cde RG Mugabe, who will be hosting us at the National Heroes Acre, so they will have nine buses, one for each province.

“I am inviting everyone from all corners of Zimbabwe to come and join His Excellency at the national shrine on Monday.” She also appealed to those who have their own transport to assist by providing transport to those in need.

Minister Chikukwa said people were expected to be seated by 9.30am. She said they were also going to interact with relatives of heroes lying at the national shrine. The police and the defence forces will provide entertainment as well as other invited artistes.

Similar celebrations will also be held at various district centres countrywide. Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, has said the 36th Heroes Day Anniversary affords the nation the opportunity to review its history.

“This occasion affords us the opportunity to retrace our footsteps as a nation, as we reminisce over the arduous journey travelled by both our departed and living heroes, leading to the birth of our nation.

“We indeed hold in high esteem their supreme sacrifices and indomitable spirit by which they smothered the brute force of colonial repression and secured for us freedom, independence and social justice,” he said.

Dr Sibanda said the heroes had played their part with distinction throughout the various epochs of the Liberation Struggle and nation building. He said: “Indeed, now is the time to consolidate our independence through refocusing our energy towards building national unity, peace and prosperity.

“As the Office of the President and Cabinet, we shall continue to draw inspiration from their courage and determination as we make our instalment towards the realisation of the aspirations of all our people through the implementation of the Zim-Asset.”

Dr Sibanda also hailed the county’s defence forces for continuously excelling in their role of being guarantors of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the ZDF remains a dependable pillar of support to the civilian authorities especially in times of national disasters and emergencies.

“True to their status as the people’s force, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces remains a dependable pillar of support to the civilian authorities, especially in times of national disasters and emergencies,” said Dr Sibanda.

“Their vanguard role in safeguarding national peace and tranquillity is integral to the success of the Zim-Asset and all the other national development programmes. The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Deputy Chief Secretaries, join his Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the ZDF and the nation at large in commemorating the 2016 Defence Forces Day,” he said.

Zimbabwe celebrates Defence Forces Day on August 9, in honour of the nation’s armed forces.

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