The government has announced that there will be no public gatherings for this year’s Heroes and Defence Forces Day celebrations, owing to the ongoing national lockdown.
This year’s celebrations come at a time when the country and the world at large is fighting the deadly virus.
The suspension of the public gatherings are in line with level two of the lockdown in accordance with the stipulated regulations by the World Health Organisation.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, while implementing lockdown measures, banned the gathering of more than 50 people in a bid to curb the spread of the novel virus.
Briefing the cabinet, Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, as Acting Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions, July Moyo, said despite the absence of physical gatherings, preparations for the annual event are at an advanced stage.
The 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations, Minister Moyo said, will be held under the theme “Remembering Our Heroes” on August 10 while the Defence Forces Day Celebrations will be held under the theme “ZDF: Celebrating 40 Years of Excellent Service to the People.”
“There will be no gatherings this year to mark both events. His Excellency, the President will address the nation using virtual platforms. The Virtual celebrations will take place over a period of two (2) weeks and covered by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC)-TV, which will extensively feature the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s exploits, community assistance projects and the Defence Forces Medical Outreach Programme,” he said.
