Tinotenda Hove – First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa on Saturday took centre stage at the Chinhoyi Seven Heroes Valour Run and War Veterans march, in an event critics may view as yet another attempt by ZANU PF to politicise liberation history while projecting the ruling party’s dominance ahead of growing national discontent.

The event, held in Chinhoyi, brought business in parts of the town to a halt as large crowds participated in the 21km, 14km, 7km and 3km races, while war veterans marched through the city in honour of the liberation fighters known as the Chinhoyi Seven.

The commemorations, originally intended to honour fallen liberation icons, were heavily dominated by political messaging linked to ZANU PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership.

Addressing the gathering, Auxillia Mnangagwa described the event as more than just a sporting activity.

“This Valour run is more than a sporting competition. It is a living classroom for our youth, teaching them values of discipline, endurance and sacrifice; a community celebration, uniting citizens, institutions and athletes in honour of our shared heritage,” she said.

She went on to directly tie the commemorations to ZANU PF’s political agenda and the leadership of President Mnangagwa.

“As we run this course today, we symbolically retrace their footsteps, carrying forward the torch of resilience, patriotism and unity of purpose — the unity that they desired this country to have, and which unity remains the cornerstone of the revolutionary party led by all our leaders and currently championed by our President, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” she said.

The First Lady also announced that ZANU PF’s Politburo had tasked her with spearheading development projects such as clinics and schools in areas linked to the Chinhoyi Seven heroes, a move likely to fuel criticism over the ruling party’s continued blending of State functions with partisan political activities.

She said: “The seven heroes remind us that freedom is never free. Their bravery in the face of overwhelming odds marked the beginning of Zimbabwe’s armed struggle for independence.”
Auxillia Mnangagwa further claimed that the Government and ruling party had already demonstrated their commitment to development through decentralised independence commemorations, citing projects in Matabeleland South.

“As a mother and a cadre of ZANU PF and a mother of our nation, it is my duty, as indeed it is a duty of all mothers, to wish all children of Zimbabwe to be given decent burials among their beloved ones,” she said.

“This was denied to the gallant sons, and their families were also denied the right to provide a decent burial for their children.”

The Chinhoyi Seven Heroes Valour Run, launched in 2022, has increasingly become a high-profile political event blending liberation war remembrance with ruling party mobilisation and messaging.