Rehabilitation work at Manicaland Provincial Heroes’ Acre
THE Depar tment of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) has spruced up the Manicaland Provincial Heroes’ Acre in preparation for the upcoming Heroes’ Day commemorations on Monday.
The work done by NMMZ includes the rehabilitation of graves, landscaping and grass cutting.
Although the Department of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe did not receive any notable funding from treasury for the rehabilitation of provincial heroes’ acres this year, some work has been carried out through the efforts of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association’s Manicaland chapter which mobilised resources such as cement, river sand and quarry stones from well-wishers for the rehabilitation of graves at the provincial shrine.
This year’s graves rehabilitation programme saw NMMZ fitting concrete slabs to 25 graves. The upgrading exercise substantially reduced the number of graves at soil mount level which now stands at only 13 from a total of 273 graves.
NMMZ, however, continues to bemoan the considerable lagging behind in the placement of polished granite tombstones due to lack of funds and the high cost of materials.
To date, only 89 graves have polished granite tombstones, with a total of 171 graves now at concrete slabbing level.
As the upgrading gap continues to widen, NMMZ is also saddled with unimplemented projects such as the provision of water, ablution facilities, electricity, terracing for public seating and an improved interpretation centre.
Substantial work still needs to be done to meet some of these needs at the provincial shrine as it has now become the centre of Provincial Heroes’ Day commemorations.
If we are to secure the country’s shared liberation heritage it is imperative that all stakeholders play a part in complementing Government’s efforts in securing the legacy of the liberation struggle for posterity.
As the nation commemorates Heroes’ Day, let us not forget the selfless dedication of the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who sacrificed their lives to unshackle the chains of colonialism for the freedom of our beautiful country.
Meanwhile, the Mutare Museum will put up a temporary display of biographies of heroes and heroines interred at the shrine as well as a special presentation on the findings on exhumations conducted at Matumba Six in 2014.
The writer is a marketing executive with the Department of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe