MDC's Heroes Day 2014 message

On 11 August each year we celebrate our country's brave men and women particularly those who took on and defeated the military might of racist Rhodesia to attain this country's freedom from colonial rule. We pay special tribute to all the unrecognized heroes and heroines of our struggle, all those denied hero status by the partisan Zanu-PF simply because they did not belong to the party.

We honor their families who have been denied the honor, respect, recognition and benefits befitting the sacrifices made by their loved ones. We celebrate the sacrifices, the blood, sweat and tears shed by these heroes for the attainment of a better Zimbabwe for all it's citizens.

Sadly once again, the sacrifices made by these heroes are being tainted by misrule and flagrant abuse of human rights in a free Zimbabwe by those at the helm of government.

For the people of Chingwizi, displaced by the Tokwe Mukosi floods in Masvingo nearly a year ago, this year's Heroes and Defence Forces holidays mark the continued hopelessness, uncertainty, desperation and a loss of dignity as the government continues to dehumanize, harass and punish them.

For the majority of Zimbabweans, life continues to be a daily toil as the economy slumps further and threatens a complete shut down. Companies continue to close down at a rapid pace, financial liquidity strangles the markets and unemployment continues to increase with no hint of a solution in sight. Health and education sectors continue to deteriorate. This is definitely not what our heroes fought for. Our heroes sacrificed their lives so that we may live in the land of milk and honey. It is becoming painfully apparent that this will not be possible under a Zanu PF government.

As we celebrate and remember our heroes we urge the government of the day to remember that they are merely custodians and superintendents of national resources and not the sole proprietors. That the future generations must find Zimbabwe in a better state than when the current national leadership found it. It is still possible for our nation to celebrate our history as a united people removed from the culture of patronage. It is still possible for Zanu PF to stand with all of us in celebrating the heroes of Zimbabwe and not heroes of Zanu PF.

The MDC salutes all our heroes both living and departed, named or unstated. We say thank you for your selfless gift.