THE MDC-T-dominated Mutare City Council has endorsed proposals by the Zimbabwe National War Veterans’ Association to rename the city’s Meikles Park after the late national hero Herbert Chitepo.
OBEY MANAYITI STAFF REPORTER
The proposal was approved during a full council meeting on Tuesday following a written request from Linda Mathathu, Manicaland provincial chairperson of the war veterans’ association.
Part of their letter addressed to town clerk Obert Muzawazi read: “Referring to the above, we the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Manicaland Chapter, have sat down and decided that the current Meikles Park be renamed Herbert Chitepo Park, and a statue of our national hero Herbert Chitepo be erected on the place where the colonial monument was.
“On the same venue, a museum should be erected wherein the names of all our Manicaland liberation fighters will be inscribed.
“This is necessary as we try to correct our history in favour of our fallen heroes and putting straight what has so far been left out in the narrative of what transpired in line with what brought freedom to our country.”
The letter was copied to Mutare mayor Tatenda Nhamarare and Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Chris Mushohwe.
The ex-combatants said they had singled out Chitepo because of the pivotal role he played in directing the execution of the liberation war alongside the late national hero Jason Ziyapapa Moyo after most nationalists had been detained by the settler regime.
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The councillors resolved to refer the matter to the Local Government and Home Affairs ministries to avoid hiccups that were experienced by Bulawayo councillors when they decided to bequeath the same honour to the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo.
