Matabeleland heroes are denied status

People in Matabeleland have been arguing that marginalisation of Matabeleland has also been in the form of the government denying national hero status to liberation war heroes from the region.

There has been a difference regarding the treatment of  fallen heroes from Matabeleland region and those outside the region. This should not be the case however as every Zimbabwean, regardless of ethnicity and tribeshould be treated equally, with honour and dignity.

For example, a number of former Zipra and Zapu cadres from the region have been denied hero status such that they ended up being buried at Lady Stanley cemetery in Bulawayo and these include Former Zipra commander General Lookout Masuku. Masuku's credentials as a hero have been strong as he was one time deputy commander of the Zimbabwe National Army but he was denied the status he deserved.

Former PF Zapu secretary general and Matabeleland Governor Welshman Mabhena, and ex-Zipra senior official Masala Sibanda are also amongst those who have been buried at Lady Stanley. In the past few years, there had been frustrations when President Mugabe refused to accord national hero status on ex- political detainee and former trade unionist Gibson Sibanda.

However, there are some "so called" heroes who had been awarded the national hero status by Mugabe and are lying at the National heroes Acre. Some of those heroes are unknown and their partaking in the liberation struggle is questionable.