WE will all soon converge at the National Heroes Acre, that all important shrine, where our gallant sons and daughters of the soil lie.
It is a sacred place well looked after, we have no complaints, it does not shame us.
We have time and again taken our important visitors to this sacred ground and showing them around and narrating the story of the liberation struggle we beam with pride.
But can the same be said of the other places where our heroes and heroines lie, the provincial heroes acres?
Can we take our visitors to these equally sacred places without shame?
Can we boast about them?
The answer is that we cannot.
Many are in a state of disrepair as if they are not important.
We need to go back to these centres where our brave rest after valiantly fighting for the motherland.
These shrines like the National Heroes Acre are equally important and hold equally important heroes and heroines.
It is only a matter of location, the value, the significance and the contribution made is the same.
Our struggle was one won as a result of contribution by many players hence these numerous sacred centres.
The ultimate sacrifice that they made is what warrants them timeless glory, timeless honour and timeless respect.
The heroes’ acres in the districts must be taken care of.
If we truly appreciate and care about our heroes and heroines and have not forgotten them then we must ensure that the grounds where they lie in repose are in a befitting state.
The reason for our shrines being in a state of disrepair is that we are fast losing ownership of these places.
We have begun to view the maintenance of these sacred places as the duty of others, but which others?
Are they not our heroes and heroines?
Our heroes fought for no clan or people of a specific totem they fought for Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe ndini newe/yimi lawe.
As district, provincial and community leaders we need to own our shrines, where our heroes lie.
We must mobilise our communities to take care of these sacred places.
We need to emphasise their importance especially to our young who did not experience the brutality of the colonial era.
We need to keep our shrines well looked after just like machengetero atinoita makuva ekumusha kwedu, tinofanira kutsvaira makuva emagamba edu/ ngendlela efanayo esilondoloza amagcwaba emakhaya ethu, simele sithanyele amagcwaba amaqhawe ethu ukuze ahlale ehlanzekile.
These centres are stories that will remain important until the end of time.
In them we are anchored, these sacred places give us sure footing and the confidence that we need to thrive.
That story must not be marred by unruly grass.
When we visit our shrines our attention must not be drawn by anything else other than the presence of the selfless men and women resting in these grounds.
These sons and daughters asked not for much just support to wrestle back the country from the enemy, the most we can do for them is to ensure they rest in peace, in grounds befitting their stature.
Why should we be outdone by the biblical Nehemiah who while in captivity in Babylon was asked why he was sad and replied he could not be happy when the graves of his forefathers were in a state of disrepair.
So how can we be at peace when the graves of our heroes are in a state of disrepair?
Food for thought as we go into the Heroes Holiday.