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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
The Midlands Provincial Heroes’ Acre yesterday recorded one of the biggest crowds in recent memory as thousands of people thronged the provincial shrine to commemorate the Heroes’ Day.

Relatives and widows of the departed heroes started arriving at the shrine as early as 8am and were given flowers that were donated by a private property development company, River Valley Properties, which bought flowers for the relatives of all the 209 heroes and heroines buried at the provincial shrine.

There was pomp and fanfare as people from all walks of life celebrated the bravery of the heroes who liberated the country.

The event was punctuated by entertainment and poetry sessions which took people down the memory lane on the sacrifices by the country’s heroes and heroines that brought about an independent Zimbabwe in 1980.

A Grade Six pupil at Takunda Primary, Ngonidzashe Muzondi, stole the show when he recited a poem on the protracted liberation struggle, which saw him being showered with presents and money from an impressed audience.

There were intermittent musical sessions throughout the day as the crowds would take to the dance floor, with most of them seen doing the “Presidential” dance that is now synonymous with President Mnangagwa every time he gets to the dance floor.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Owen Ncube arrived at the venue at exactly 11am to kick start the programme.

Soon after the national anthem, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the departed heroes and heroines. There was a flypast at about 11:27am and Minister Ncube later took to the podium to read the President’s speech. Soon after the speech, Minister Ncube then led the provincial service chiefs in laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Thereafter, Minister Ncube, in the company of service chiefs, toured graves, where he spoke to relatives of the departed heroes and heroines.

River Valley Properties donated food hampers to all the 209 widows, widowers and relatives of the departed heroes and heroines interred at the provincial shrine.

In interviews, some of the widows and widowers of the departed heroes and heroines thanked the company for the gesture which they said was now a yearly event.

“It’s not the first time the company has donated food hampers and food vouchers because every year as we celebrate the lives of our departed loved ones, we have received such from this company,” said Mrs Joyce Nkomo, whose husband is interred at the provincial shrine.