Story by Oleen Ndori
FAMILIES of four posthumously declared national heroes have been presented with flags, while individuals who have represented the country exceptionally in different sectors were honoured at the 45th Heroes’ Day commemorations.
Heroes Day is one of the most prized commemorations for the people of Zimbabwe as they remember and honour those who fought for the independence being enjoyed to this day.
Upon arrival, President Emmerson Mnangagwa inspected the guard of honour mounted by the Presidential Guard.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and his two deputies, Vice President General Retired Dr Constantino Chiwenga, and Colonel Retired Kembo Mohadi, laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This year saw four family members of national heroes who were posthumously declared being presented with flags.
These include Cde Jairos Jiri, Brigadier-General Retired Lameck Francisco Mutanda, Cde John Mbedzi, and Cde Elos David Malandu.
Honours and awards were also presented to those who have represented the country exceptionally in various facets.
Professor Vladimir Shubin, a former Secretary of the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee and Head of the Africa Section of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union’s International Department, received the Zimbabwe International Friendship Award.
“I am honoured to be here in Zimbabwe to receive this award for my work to help the country achieve independence. This is not my own award, but this is for my country, Russia,” he said.
Inasem Chitutu, a teenager who bravely rescued two children from a burning house in Bindura, says he is honoured after receiving the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe Award.
“I never thought I would meet the President at such a young age, let alone receive this award, which is closest to my heart, and I will forever cherish this,” he noted.
With women continuing play a key role in the health care sector, Dr. Madeline Nyamwanza, the first female African Medical Doctor in Zimbabwe, received the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Commendation Award for Service in Human Capital Development, I feel grateful to receive this award in recognition of the work I have done particularly in the health care sector and this award will forever be cherished.”
These living heroes of Zimbabwe are among the more than two thousand veterans of the liberation struggle from across the country who were honoured this Monday.
As the nation honours and celebrates the living and departed heroes, the duty to achieve a thriving Zimbabwe lies with each Zimbabwean as the country pushes towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
