HARARE The MDC-T says Zimbabweans should spare a thought for real change heroes who died fighting dictatorship since 1980 as the country remembers its illustrious sons and daughters who contributed to its independence and development. (Pictured: A giant of the libe
Zimbabwe marks Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day on August 9 and 10, respectively. The commemorations have however been monopolised by President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) which takes the events as party activities. The MDC-T led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said the Heroes holidays must be used to remember both the contributions of those who waged the 1970s war of independence and the struggles of post-independence activists who demanded real change from the new black leadership.
It said while Zimbabweans remembered the role played by the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomo and others like Herbert Chitepo, Josiah Tongogara, Ndabaningi Sithole, Edgar Tekere, Lookout Masuku, Jason Ziyapapa Moyo, Sheba Gava and Mayor Urimbo, they should not lose sight of the contributions made by post-independence heroes who chose to resist oppression.
These included Isaac Matongo, Talent Mabika, Tichaona Chiminya, Thabitha Marume, Learnmore Jongwe, Tonderai Ndira and Joshua Bakacheza, the party said. On Heroes Day next week, Zimbabwe must also spare a thought for the heroes of real change: those who lost life and limb as they sought to complete the unfinished business of our liberation struggle, the party said.
The MDC-T reiterated its call for a review of the process of bestowing national hero status, demanding a non-partisan selection process. We demand an all-inclusive, credible and legitimate body of eminent persons to determine and confer hero status. Our national shrine must not be bastardised by parochial, partisan political interests, it said. Under the current system, a group of men and women from the Zanu (PF) Politburo has the sole right to decide who qualifies to be a hero or not. A person is either conferred hero status or not depending on their perceived support for Zimbabwes revolution often a proxy for their support Mugabe.
The Heroes Acre has turned into an exclusive shrine for Mugabes loyal supporters, some of them with questionable histories and criminal records. Anyone who has crossed paths with the Zimbabwean strongman no matter how much they contributed to the countrys liberation from British rule would never dream of being interred at the national shrine.
The MDC-T said the new system should recognise that heroes are born every day and should not be confined only to those who actively participated in the countrys war of independence or have links to Zanu (PF).
Zimbabwes National Heroes Act stipulates that the conferment of hero status should be the prerogative of Cabinet.
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