The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE first hero to be laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare, Cde Herbert Chitepo, who would have turned 100 years old today, was remembered in style by his family as they took time to visit some of the places in Mutare that were named after the country’s first black lawyer and his wife, Victoria.
The Zimbabwe National Army’s Three Brigade Headquarters was renamed Herbert Chitepo Barracks, while Mutare Provincial Hospital was renamed Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
Cde Chitepo, who died on March 18, 1975, was born on June 5, 1923, would have turned 100 years old today.
He died at the age 52.
Mr Bernard Chitepo, the late hero’s nephew, said: “We are here to get an appreciation of the places that were named after our late father and national hero, Cde Herbert Chitepo as well as his wife, Victoria. In the same breadth, we really appreciate Government for honoring our father. It is something we will forever cherish and appreciate as a family.
“The main purpose for visiting these places that were named after the late hero and heroine is to foster a lasting relationship with these institutions as well as build synergies for mutual cooperation. We sincerely appreciate the hearty welcome we got from the two institutions we visited – Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital as well as the Herbert Chitepo Barracks.”
Other places that were names after the late national hero include Great Zimbabwe University’s Herbert Chitepo School of Law, University of Zimbabwe’s Herbert Chitepo Law Department, Herbert Chitepo Training Centre in Bonda, ZANU PF’s Chitepo School of Ideology as well as many schools, streets and roads in major towns and cities countrywide.
