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Herald Reporters
Zimbabweans yesterday marked the 41st Heroes Day in honour of gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country.

The national event was held at the National Heroes Acre and was presided over by President Mnangagwa.

Government officials and Zanu PF members also converged at provincial heroes acres to mark day.

In Harare, the function started in the afternoon with the Minister of State Oliver Chidawu reading the speech of the President before laying of wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

He later gave commendation awards presented by President Mnangagwa to outstanding Zimbabweans as part of the Second Republic’s recognition of civil servants and civilians contributing to the development of the nation and improving livelihoods of Zimbabweans.

Some people were honoured posthumously including popular author Charles Mungoshi, journalist Judith Makwanya and Dr Charles Utete.

Some of the recipients of the awards were Mrs Devine Ndhlukula, former Minister Fay Chung, Professor Mandivamba Rukuni, prominent journalist Rueben Barwe and Mrs Betty Mutero, among others.

Former Seed Co managing director, Mr Denias Zaranyika said the awards are a good development that would make Zimbabwean communities realise their efforts are recognised and appreciated.

“There are many heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for our country and some of them never returned from the war of liberation. What we owe them is immeasurable.

“My own award is dedicated to them and to Zimbabweans who are taking development in various sectors as a key deliverable. I come from the agriculture sector where youths, women and men have upscaled activities to newer levels leveraging on modern practices and technologies. But the enthusiasm among youths and women is amazing,” he said.

Spouses and children of the late heroes and heroines also had the time to spruce up the graves of their loved ones while for others it was a moment of photo shooting as they remembered their loved ones.

In Masvingo a limited number of people including senior Government officials, civil servants and relatives of departed heroes and heroines interred at the Masvingo Provincial Heroes Acre joined the nation in commemorating the important day yesterday with Covid-19 precautionary measures such as social distancing, masking up and sanitising of hands being strictly enforced.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira led the proceedings to mark the important day by reading the Presidential speech before leading service chiefs, war veterans’ representatives and Zanu PF officials to lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Minister Chadzamira then conferred medals on behalf of President Mnangagwa to Chief Mazungunye (Mr Lazarus Mupaisi Mazungunye) of Bikita and the late long-serving Zimbabwe Farmers Union president Cde Silas Dunira Hungwe for their service to uplifting lives of ordinary people and development of the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe respectively.

Chief Mazungunye received his medal from Minister Chadzamira after reading of a citation noting his achievements while Cde Hungwe’s medal was received on his behalf by his son Shadreck Hungwe.

After that Minister Chadzamira joined relatives of some of the fallen heroes buried at the shrine to lay wreaths at their graves.

In Matabeleland South, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Abedneco Ncube read the President’s speech and also handed over the commendation awards to Chief Masuku of Matshetsheni in Gwanda and Mangwe Rural District Council chief executive Mr John Brown Ncube.

The event was also attended by Zanu PF Matabeleland South senior members, vice chairman Cde Never Khanye, provincial secretary for administration Cde William Dewa, senior war veteran Cde Otilah Sibanda, Gwanda town clerk Ms Priscilla Nkala, Gwanda acting district development co-ordinator, Thulani Moyo, provincial development co-ordinator Ms Lathiso Dlamini, and service chiefs, among others.

In Midlands, the Heroes Day celebrations were marked by a gun salute from members of the army in honour of the departed heroes after which few people who had gathered at the provincial Heroes Acre in line with the Covid-19 regulations, tuned to the huge screen which was mounted at the venue to follow proceedings of the national event in Harare.

Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Larry Mavima who was the guest of honour at the event then presented commendation awards to five individuals for their immense contributions to the development of society.

Among those who were honoured was an engineer and an architect who together, designed a spectacular bridge and monument for the statue of Mbuya Nehanda in Harare.

Mr Tapiwa Gabriel Chiwara was awarded a humanitarian award for his exceptional architectural works in the construction of the first ever pedestrianised Statue monument for Mbuya Nehanda.

His colleague, Engineer Edward Nyanzira was also awarded an engineering award for the engineering design.

Eng Nyanzira who is with the Ministry of Local Government was central in the modern engineering design of the 60 metre steel spanning pedestrianised bridge under which Mbuya Nehanda’s statue is mounted.

The bridge has a mechanical rotational feature meant to honour and celebrate the heroic stance of Mbuya Nehanda during the First Chimurenga/Umvukela.

Others who were honoured at the event were Mrs Vongai Mutokoti who lost a limb during the war and later formed the War Victims Association and an educationist, Cde Stephen Nyengera who founded teacher education course in Zimbabwe.

Mr Garikai Magadzire was awarded posthumously with the Promotion and Development of Small Holder Farmers award for his immense contribution to agriculture in Zimbabwe

In Bindura, Mashonaland Central,  this year’s provincial heroes celebrations were dampened by the death of heroes acre caretaker Cde Dorothy Kaseke who was buried at the shrine yesterday.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Monica Mavhunga, service chiefs and delegates followed virtual proceeding of events happening in Harare at the provincial shrine.

The Minister of State led the laying of wreaths the at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers before touring the gravesite.

At the grave of Cde Vemba Aloise Matandadzi whose Chimurenga name was Johnson Ndoda Hondo, Cde Mavhunga said the family is lobbying for a national heroes status for the late comrade due to his immense contribution towards the liberation struggle.

Few families of the late heroes including the late Cde Luwizhi Fernando and Cde Fisher Shakespeare Ndhlovu visited the graves of their loves ones.

In Manicaland, Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Nokuthula Matsikenyeri presided over the celebrations and led a small gathering that joined the rest of the nation in commemorating Heroes Day at the provincial shrine in Mutare.

Minister Matsikenyeri opened the ceremony by inspecting a quarter guard mounted by 3 Infantry Brigade. She then read the President’s speech and later led service chiefs in laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Four individuals — Mr Edgars Seenza, Honourable Raymore Machingura, Cde Cosmas Chiringa and Alderman Guy Mutasa — were conferred with medals in different categories as the Second Republic recognised their outstanding service and works that have made impact in society.

The 41st Heroes Day celebrations at Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre were attended by service chiefs, senior Government officials, traditional leaders, Zanu PF provincial leadership, war veterans, war collaborators, ex-detainees and restrictees as well as families of the heroes and heroines interred at the provincial shrine.

The families had an opportunity to honour the fallen gallant sons and daughters of the soil by laying flowers on their graves.

The number of those in attendance was in strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols..

In  Marondera people were gathered at Mashonaland East Provincial Heroes Acre as they commemorate and celebrate historical event.

Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Aplonia Munzverengwi presided over the event and read President Mnangagwa’s speech.

A number of family members were seen at the heroes acre laying  flowers at the tomb of their departed loved ones.

In an interview at the provincial heroes acre, Chief Svosve said the commemoration symbolises the defeat of colonialism.

“This day signifies and defines the celebration of defeating the white regime, here in Marondera we are now enjoying the fruits of the fallen and living heroes as we are now having land and practising farming.

Meanwhile, widows of war veterans were remembered by a local company, Itmosci Nutriology as they were given food hampers.