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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE government has said tribalism and regionalism are not used in bestowing liberation hero status to those who would have contributed immensely to the country.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said this during the National Assembly Question and Answer session on Wednesday while responding to a question by Matabeleland South proportional representation MP Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

The lawmaker had asked the VP on the criteria used by the government to bestow liberation hero status following one’s death.

She expressed concern over the government’s response following the deaths of three prominent academics last year: former National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu, the director of the African Institute of Agrarian Studies Professor Sam Moyo and University of Zimbabwe’s senior lecturer Vimbai Chivaura.

She queried why only Chivaura was accorded liberation hero status yet the three academics’ contributions were all well-known.

VP Mnangagwa said the government does not discriminate based on where people come but responds to requests made by provinces.

“I want to assure the honourable member that when we’re talking about this, there’s no tribalism involved. Those who worked were given state assisted funerals and those that you mentioned — it all depends on the province that they come from,” said VP Mnangagwa.

“They would not have approached the government because if you’re working, you will be assisted without any tribalism being involved. When you’re working, it’s for the betterment of the country and not for a particular tribe.”

The VP also explained the difference between a liberation war and liberation hero.

“A liberation war hero is a person who carried a gun.

“A liberation hero is someone who may have been outside or within the country but did not hold the gun but did some work which is known that he or she was a nationalist who supported the freedom of this country,” he explained.

“So in that manner, there are people who were not of age, like the learned brother, whom we didn’t think would participate in the war but after independence, we realised that their works are good and have uplifted the country.”