State Media
Zimbabwe is going to honour more of its heroes and heroines through immortalising them in sculpture and making sure their history is known with the country now erecting a statue for celebrated First Chimurenga war heroine Mbuya Nehanda.
In his virtual address on the 40th anniversary of Heroes Day at State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the country, which is home to the continent’s Museum of the African Liberation History that catalogues African history and resistance to colonial oppression from the 1890s until the attainment of political independence, will honour its heroes and heroines in both the First and Second Chimurenga.
“Today’s 40th National Heroes Day anniversary celebrations are regrettably being held in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, our event today will not have the usual fanfare, as we have to be in compliance with the World Health Organisation’s Guidelines. Be that as it may, our commemorations are uniquely significant in that we are combining the recognition of heroes and heroines of both the First and Second Chimurenga-Umvukela.
“In this regard, the mounting of the Statue of Mbuya Nehanda in Harare, our capital city, will immortalise the supreme sacrifice that was paid by our forbears. The location of this statue carries added historical meaning because the intersection of Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way is the spot where Mbuya Nehanda used to rest and drink water from a river that flowed at the site,” the President said.
Among heroes and heroines that the country will honour are General Mtshane Khumalo, who commanded the Imbizo Regiment under King Lobengula that defeated the Allan Wilson Patrol at the Battle of Pupu on December 10, 1893, Sekuru Kaguvi, Chaminuka, Mkwati, Queen Lozikeyi Khumalo, Chinengundu, Mashayamombe, Mgandani Dlodlo, Chiwashira, Muchecheterwa, Chingaira Makoni, and Mapondera, who are all heroes and heroines of the First Chimurenga.
From the Second Chimurenga-Umvukela, the late General Josiah Magama Tongogara and General Alfred Nikita Mangena, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Cde Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Cde Simon Vengesai Muzenda, among others, will also be honoured.
“We must as a people appropriate our liberation war heritage and shape the narratives by telling our own journey to freedom and independence. As such, my administration shall expedite the documentation of the story of our liberation struggle and the associated historical heritage. The programme of renaming roads, buildings and prominent public infrastructure with names reflective of the country’s history is ongoing and a key feature of our liberation war heritage,” he said.
The “list of our national monuments is being reviewed to include liberation war shrines such as the 1893 Pupu Shrine, the 1966 Chinhoyi battle site and the Kamugoma massacre site of 1978 in Masvingo. Other sites such as the national and provincial heroes acres, assembly points as well as former detention and restriction centres have also been made national monuments. Meanwhile, liberation war shrines in neighbouring Mozambique and Zambia will continue to be rehabilitated”.