Heroes’ Acre undergoes changes

THE National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) is on a drive to spruce up district and provincial heroes’ acres across the province to uphold the honour of liberation cadres and promote educational tourism to the sites.

Working together with local communities, the government agency has already started work at the provincial heroes’ acre as evidenced by their visit to the site on Friday, accompanied by the Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Christopher Magomo.

Kelvin Machiwenyika, Senior Curator at the National Museums and Monuments, said the sprucing up is meant to improve the image of the historical site.

“NMMZ has the task to safeguard this place. We have agreed to ensure this place is well secured and has all the necessary provisions, including electricity and water.

“We are also looking at improving signage and the state of other graves here. We also have to fence that area,” said Machiwenyika. “We will have a site museum. We want this place to be an important place, bearing memories and it must be a tourism attraction for education purposes,” he added.

The development comes at a time provincial heroes’ acres are in a poor state which contrasts the importance placed on the struggle for independence.

Speaking during the same tour, John Kwainona, Zanu PF War Veterans League provincial chairperson said: “We are here to put our hands on deck. We want to ensure there is uniformity, and want to ensure that there is electricity, toilets. This place must be well on board, that’s why we took everyone on board.

“We also want district heroes’ acres to take notes from us as a province; they must come here and take notes that’s why we want to upgrade standards which are here.

‘This place is educative and gives me mental maturity in that this place is important to the people of Zimbabwe. These are the heroes, they brought the country, and they brought all the freedom. They decided this country must be free and they serve as a reminder of democracy.”

Next to the provincial heroes’ acre lies the ZAOGA Prayer Mountain, where the church’s founder and national hero Apostle Ezekiel Guti was buried, prompting the church to assist with water and power connections.