National Heroes' Acre (Zimbabwe)

Looking down to the statue of the unknown soldier

National Heroes' Acre or simply Heroes' Acre is a burial ground and national monument in Harare, Zimbabwe. The 23-hectare (57-acre) site is situated on a ridge seven kilometres from Harare, towards Norton. Its stated purpose is to commemorate Patriotic Front guerrillas killed during the Rhodesian Bush War, and contemporary Zimbabweans whose dedication or commitment to their country justify their interment at the shrine. People buried here are considered heroes by the incumbent Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front regime, which has administered the country since independence at 1980.[1] Indeed, most of the recipients of the 'hero status' were known to be Zanu-PF sympathisers.[2]

The actual monument itself is modeled after two AK-47s lying back-to-back; the graves are meant to resemble their magazines.[3][4] It closely mirrors the design of the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery in Taesong-guyŏk, just outside Pyongyang, North Korea.[5]

The monument is an early example of work of the North Korean firm Mansudae Overseas Projects, which went on to construct a similar cemetery in Namibia, Heroes' Acre.[6]

  1. ^ "National Heroes Acre losing significance?". The Financial Gazette. October 8, 2010. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  2. ^ "Mugabe says National Heroes Acre is solely for Zanu PF members". Zimbabwe Metro. October 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  3. ^ "Things you didn't know about the Heroes' Acre in Harare". Zimbabwe Metro. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Farai, Christopher (August 22, 2011). "Heroes Acre: bastionof patriotism, tourist attraction". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference k was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Hall, Nick (December 9, 2022). "Empty lots and baboon feces: North Korea's monuments in Namibia — in photos". NK News. Retrieved 8 January 2023.