Thousands of people who gathered for Heroes Day commemorations that were presided over by President Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre yesterday.
Herald Reporters
Heroes Day celebrations yesterday drew much interest from thousands of Zimbabweans from all walks of life who thronged shrines countrywide where heroes of the liberation struggle are buried.
The main event was at the National Heroes Acre in Harare where President Mugabe led the commemorations.
His speech was read in the country’s provincial capitals by provincial affairs ministers.
In Harare, the national shrine was full quite early and some people had to follow proceedings from a nearby hill, while others were perched on trees.
Banners inscribed “Sando Dzenyu Magamba”, “Remembering Our Heroes”, “Zimbabwe Ndeyeropa”, “Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans”, “Celebrating Heroes and Heroines”, “Law for the People Not against the people”, “Vending Yes, Disorder No” denoted the celebrations, while highlighting issues that were uppermost the people’s minds.
Among the dignitaries were the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and members of the First Family, Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko and their spouses, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, Government ministers and legislators, among others.
Foreign dignitaries included Angola’s Deputy Chief of General Staff for Patriotic Education General Antonio Edidio De Sousa Santos and Pakistan’s Vice Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Saeed Muhammad Khan.
Official proceedings started with the national anthem where there was a flypast by the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
Director of Ceremony and Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo invited Father Fidelis Mukonori to give a word of prayer.
This was followed by President Mugabe’s keynote address which was well received from the floor.
Watch President Mugabe’s address below:
After the President’s address, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces led in the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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He was followed by Amai Mugabe, the two Vice Presidents, Senate President Edna Madzongwe, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa, Harare mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni and service chiefs.
President Mugabe and his two deputies then visited graves of the fallen heroes buried at the national shrine where he spoke to their relatives.
Entertainment was provided by choral groups and the Zimbabwe Republic police band.
In Bulawayo, scores of people converged at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Nkulumane for Heroes Day.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo led the people in commemorating the day.
She laid the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and was later joined by the acting commander of ZNA One Infantry Brigade, Colonel Mpulaeng Siziba, the officer commanding police in Bulawayo province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba and his counterpart from the ZPCS, Senior Assistant Commissioner Mailos Njomani in doing the same.
Among those who attended the event were Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, the ruling party’s Politburo member Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and former Zanu-PF Youth Secretary Cde Absolom Sikhosana.
In Masvingo, a bumper crowd packed the Masvingo provincial Heroes’ Acre to join the rest of the nation in commemorating Heroes Day amid pomp and fanfare.
Proceedings started just before 9am with war veterans accompanied by drum majorettes marching from Pangolin suburb to the provincial shrine in a procession that drew hundreds of curious onlookers.
Masvingo provincial affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa presided over the event.
In the Midlands province, hundreds of people thronged the Midlands Provincial Shrine in Gweru.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya read President Mugabe’s speech and gave hampers and vouchers to the 175 families of the heroes and heroines buried at the Provincial Heroes Acre.
In Mashonaland West, the main event was in Chinhoyi where hundreds of people – including relatives and colleagues of fallen heroes – gathered at the Chinhoyi Heroes Acre.
Mashonaland West Minister of State Cde Faber Chidarikire led proceedings, before reading the President’s speech.
In Matabeleland South, the main event was at the provincial heroes acre in Gwanda where hundreds turned up.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Abednico Ncube presided over the commemorations that were attended by service chiefs and senior Government officials.
In Manicaland, thousands of people thronged the provincial heroes’ acre in Mutare where the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Mandi Chimene read the President’s speech.
Dendera, music icon Sulumani Chimbetu was the star attraction as he belted revolutionary songs that took many back to the days of the liberation struggle.
In Mashonaland Central, the main event was led by Minister of Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha in Bindura, while newly appointed Provincial Affairs minister for Mashonaland East Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri did the same in Marondera.
In Matabeleland North, provincial affairs minister Cde Cain Mathema led the proceedings and performed all the rituals associated with the Heroes Day.
In Beitbridge, National Security Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi, who is also legislator for Beitbridge East, led the celebrations and read the President’s speech.