A symbol of bravery . . .
THE National Heroes Acre, the country’s revered shrine, is the pride of the people of Zimbabwe. It is a symbol of bravery and selflessness for those whose remains are laid to rest there. Towering and selflessness for those remains are laid to rest there.
Towering majestically is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which symbolises the final resting place for tens and thousands of Zimbabweans who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom and independence, but whose remains are scattered in valleys, disused mines, caves, unknown graves and mass graves spread across the nation and in neighbouring states.
Zimbabwe’s war of liberation was the epic of the revolutionary spirit that characterise modern Zimbabweans.
Before independence many people were detained under sub-human conditions by the notorious Rhodesian regime, and some of them spent long spells in detention without trial. Tens of thousands of gallant fighters sacrificed their lives to free Zimbabwe.
In honour of these fallen heroes, the government built shrines across the country where declared heroes are interred. All heroes’ acres are administered by the Department of Museums and National Monuments.
Conferment of hero status is a great honour in recognition of these gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe. The heroes are classified in three categories and generally reflect the departed hero’s or heroine’s contribution to the nation. The status is determined by the State on a case by case basis.
Symbolism and Meaning
It is seen from most parts of the city, towering above the seen structures of the surrounding suburbs. Like a fortress, it symbolises Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle for independence.
It is also a place highly associated with the both the First and Second Chimurenga wars of independence. The place symbolises the country’s liberation history or the history of nationalism dating back to the 1960s.
Museum
There is also a national museum located within the National Heroes Acre. It is basically a repository of Zimbabwean history which is displayed in the form of drawings, pictures, artwork and written word. The museum, by and large, contains the history of the Second Chimurenga in Zimbabwe. The place is administered by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe.
By 2014, there were more than 100 heroes buried at the national shrine. The most notable of these include the late Vice-Presidents Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo.