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Masvingo Bureau
Thousands of people yesterday thronged the Masvingo Provincial Heroes’ Acre and other shrines across the province’s seven districts to join the rest of the nation in commemorating Heroes’ Day.

The main celebrations were held at the Masvingo Provincial Heroes’ Acre where Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Josaya Hungwe led proceedings, amid merry-making.

In the districts, the festivities were led by district administrators at the district shrines.

In Masvingo city, proceedings started after 8am, with a parade comprising war veterans, drum majorettes and members of the Zimbabwe National Army marching from Pangolin suburb to the provincial shrine.

The crowd was captivated by performances from the drum majorettes and taken down memory lane by war veterans who belted revolutionary songs.

Service chiefs led by Commander 4 Infantry Brigade Brigadier-General Exobious Tshuma then arrived at the provincial shrine around 10am and took their positions as they waited for the arrival of Senator Hungwe.

War veterans Masvingo provincial leader Cde Ignatius Murindi and chairperson of the commission running the affairs of the City of Masvingo Cde Goddard Dunira also joined service chiefs.

Senator Hungwe read the Presidential speech that was intermittently interrupted by ululation and acclamation from the vivacious crowd.

He then led service chiefs and other senior dignitaries in laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before proceeding to meet relatives of some of the heroes and heroines whose remains are interred at the shrine.

Festivities continued late into the day, with the epicentre of celebrations shifting from the provincial shrine to Mucheke Stadium where a soccer tournament brought the curtain down on the day’s events.

In Beitbridge, scores of people gathered at the district shrine (Makhakavhule) to commemorate the heroes celebrations.

Politicians and supporters of different parties were seen seated together.

Beitbridge district administrator Mrs Kiliboni Ndou-Mbedzi read the President’s speech and led the celebrations.

Entertainment was provided by local schools and police drills.

Zanu-PF Central Committee member Dr Aaron Maboyi urged leaders at the gathering to localise the party manifesto to stir development in the district.

Among those who attended the event were Central Committee member Cde Metrine Mudau, Senator designate Tambudzani Mohadi, MP-elect Beibridge East Cde Albert Nguluvhe and MP-elect Beitbridge West Ruth Maboyi and MDC-Alliance elected councillors Mr Morgan Ncube and Mr Granger Hungwe.

In Zaka, district administrator Mr Ndeya Nyede led the celebrations, read the Presidential speech and laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the district shrine accompanied by families and friends of heroes whose remains are interred at the shrine.

Mr Lovemore Chisema led Heroes’ Day celebrations in Chiredzi, where he also read the Presidential speech before leading war veterans leaders and service chiefs to lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.