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Sifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
THE ZIMBABWE Liberation War Collaborators Association (Zilwaco) has urged the government to consider conferring national hero status on some of its members saying their contribution before and after independence merits the recognition.Speaking at an exercise to clean up the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre yesterday, Zilwaco secretary for information and publicity Cde Joyce Ndlovu said the mjibhas and chibwindos played a crucial role during and after the liberation struggle and deserve to be honoured.

“I want to request our leaders to consider us for liberation and national hero status. Largely our members have not been considered for these honoured status,” said Cde Ndlovu.

“We never sold out.  We sacrificed our lives for this country. We fed, hid, and provided information to the fighters. We think that merit us being recognised as liberation war heroes.”

Cde Ndlovu said they are yet to get pensions and access to basic health care, a development which is in violation of the Constitution.

“Some of us were injured during the struggle but we have to pay our medical bills,” said Cde Ndlovu.

Section 84 of the Constitution says those who assisted fighters in the war of liberation are entitled to “due recognition for their contribution to the liberation of Zimbabwe and to suitable welfare such as pensions and access to basic health care.”

The clean up exercise at the Bulawayo Provincial Heroes Acre, where 727 distinguished individuals buried, started last week and is expected to continue up to Heroes’ Day next month.

Cde Ndlovu urged members of the public to come and assist in the exercise.