By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday called on Zimbabweans to safeguard the country’s liberation heritage and remain vigilant in defending the freedom, independence and sovereignty secured through the sacrifices of the country’s heroes and heroines.
Addressing thousands of Zimbabweans gathered at the National Heroes Acre in Harare during the 46th Heroes’ Day anniversary, President Mnangagwa said the commemorations served as a constant reminder of the heavy price paid for Zimbabwe’s independence.
Heroes’ Day is observed annually to honour the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods during the liberation struggle, with national commemorations centred on the National Heroes Acre.
President Mnangagwa said the nation should never take its hard-won freedom for granted, emphasizing that independence and sovereignty required continuous protection and responsible stewardship.
“It is a clarion call for us to remain mindful of the weighty obligation we have to those who laid the foundations of the Zimbabwe we enjoy today. We stand on the shoulders of giants,” he said.
He said many of the people who contributed to the liberation of Zimbabwe were not commemorated in history books or through elaborate monuments, but their sacrifices remained permanently embedded in the country’s history.
“Their blood is eternally blended with the soils of our land. Their dreams, their hopes and aspirations are alive from generation to generation,” he said.
President Mnangagwa paid tribute to veterans of the armed liberation struggle and families of national heroes and heroines who endured the hardships of the war against colonial rule.
He said the human cost of the liberation struggle should remain central to the nation’s remembrance of its history, adding that the victory achieved through the sacrifices of the fallen and living heroes should inspire Zimbabweans to accelerate the development of the country.
“This victory by our departed and living heroes and heroines against the formidable colonial forces is a source of inspiration that must give impetus to our resolve as we pursue building a modern and prosperous Zimbabwe,” he said.
President Mnangagwa reaffirmed the Second Republic’s commitment to national unity, peace, democracy, order, patriotic discipline and the security of citizens, saying the values of the liberation struggle would continue to shape Zimbabwe’s national identity.
“The armed liberation war values that gave birth to an independent Zimbabwe shall continue to shape the country’s national identity. This principle shall never be compromised,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also used the occasion to outline progress and priorities under the Government’s development agenda, linking the sacrifices of the liberation generation to the responsibility of building a prosperous Zimbabwe.
He said despite global shocks and supply-chain disruptions, the economy had continued to experience exchange-rate and price stability since September 2024, with inflation remaining below five percent and expected to remain in single digits.
Government, he said, had also reviewed licences, permits, levies and fees across priority sectors as part of efforts to strengthen long-term development and investment.
“Zimbabwe is indeed open for business,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said agriculture remains central to the development agenda, with Government pursuing increased irrigation, the full utilisation of agricultural land and the transformation of dams and irrigation schemes into viable economic hubs.
He added that the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority was being refocused towards structured, market-led agribusiness, while young farmers were being empowered and rural communities strengthened.
Building on the successes recorded during the 2025-26 agricultural season, President Mnangagwa said Government had raised its ambitions for the coming season.
Turning to education, he said Government continued to support children and dependents of veterans of the liberation struggle through the Education Support Programme.
Disadvantaged learners at primary and secondary school level, as well as students at special institutions, were also receiving Government assistance.
He challenged the education, sports, arts and cultural sectors to do more to preserve Zimbabwe’s liberation history and ensure that young people understood the sacrifices that made the country’s independence possible.
“In line with this year’s Heroes’ Day theme, I call upon the education sector, together with the sports, arts and cultural creative industries, to develop and adopt more programmes and activities to ensure that the memory of our liberation heritage, as well as heroes and heroines, is kept alive, especially among the children and young people of our motherland Zimbabwe,” he said.
President Mnangagwa further highlighted digital infrastructure expansion under the National Development Strategy 2, saying increased connectivity would promote inclusion in both rural and urban communities.
He said Government was also prioritizing research, innovation, science and technology as part of efforts to diversify the economy and enhance industrial competitiveness.
Institutions of higher learning, he said, were increasingly becoming centres of innovation, research, entrepreneurship and industrialisation.
On healthcare, President Mnangagwa said Government was working to strengthen local production and supply chains to ensure sustained availability of essential medicines, vaccines and other medical supplies.
“We are determined to build a health system that is self-reliant, resilient and responsive for fortified national health security,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of vocational training in preparing young Zimbabweans for the demands of the modern economy, saying training programmes must be aligned with emerging industrial and economic opportunities.
Beyond economic development, President Mnangagwa said Government remained committed to improving citizens’ welfare through the rehabilitation of government offices and housing, servicing land for residential development and facilitating the issuance of title deeds to strengthen security of tenure.
He said the 46th Heroes’ Day commemorations should therefore not merely be an annual ritual, but a moment for Zimbabweans to draw lessons from the past and translate the sacrifices of the liberation generation into action.
He noted that while the main commemorations were being held at the National Heroes Acre, Zimbabweans across provinces, districts and wards were also gathering to honour the country’s heroes, while others followed the proceedings online and Zimbabwean diplomatic missions commemorated the occasion abroad.
He commended Zimbabweans for continuing to be patriotic and respectful of the country’s liberation heritage.
New Ziana
