The Midlands area houses rich mining deposits with gold, platinum, diamonds, chrome and several other valuable minerals. This region has raised many politically active citizens who shaped Zimbabwe through their contributions. Early freedom fighters who helped make Zimbabwe independent came from these lands. Among the many heroes, President Mnangagwa stands out as the most famous figure from this part of the country.
Many great leaders from the Midlands sleep eternally at National Heroes Acre memorial grounds. Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo rests there after serving as Foreign Affairs Minister. Cephas Msipa lived from 1931 to 2016 and worked as a teacher, philanthropist, and government official after independence. He started with the ANC under Joshua Nkomo and later became Secretary for Foreign Affairs between 1971 and 1972. Msipa helped create unity between ZANU and ZAPU political parties, which formed the current ZANU-PF through the Unity Accord.
Josiah Magama Tongogara, born February 4, 1938, came from Shurugwi. His family lived on a farm belonging to Ian Smith's parents, where they worked. He finished basic education but missed secondary schooling. He moved to Zambia, studied bookkeeping, and found work as a golf club secretary. His revolutionary path began with ZANU youth activities in Zambia in 1963. He later traveled to China for military training as part of the first group sent there in 1966.
By 1973, he led the High Command and became ZANLA Commander. He attended both the Geneva Conference and signed the Lancaster House Agreement that ended the liberation war. A car crash took his life on December 26, 1979, and he received a burial at National Heroes Acre the following year. Shurugwi produced additional national heroes, including Garikayi Magadzire, Stephen Vuma, Clement Muchachi, and Lameck Makanda.
Magadzire succeeded as a farmer and pushed for small farm development throughout his life. Born in Shurugwi village, he passed away from health complications in 1996. As a teenager, he worked as a clerk but lost his position because of his age. A kind reverend sponsored his education at Pakame Mission. He attended another school until they expelled him for religious differences. He found work with Native Agriculture in 1959, which sparked his political awareness.
Meeting Joshua Nkomo at agriculture college changed his perspective when Nkomo explained colonial unfairness. Magadzire balanced farming passion with political activism throughout his career. He served as vice president for the African Farmers' Union from 1976 through 1978. He stayed active with farm leadership until the organizations merged into the Zimbabwe Farmers Union in 1991. Stephen Vuma, another freedom fighter and financial expert, died peacefully at home in Gweru in 1997. Born in 1936 under Chief Lukulaba, he mobilized citizens toward independence.
Colonial powers arrested him for activism in 1959. After his release, he worked briefly in Bulawayo before handling party finances in Tanzania. Traveling there, he met Mnangagwa, who connected him with party representatives Musarurwa and Ngwenya in Zambia. He returned to Zimbabwe in 1980 after years away, mostly spent between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. At his death, he served on ZANU PF's Central Committee and as Deputy Finance Secretary. Lameck Makanda, former Senator and party official, rests among "nationalist elders" at National Heroes Acre.
Born in 1912 in Mvuma, Makanda died in Harare in 1992. He fought for freedom starting in the 1960s through the African National Congress. When authorities banned the ANC, he joined the National Democratic Party and rallied people against the colonial government. Mberengwa birthed additional freedom fighters, including Rugare Gumbo, Brigadier-General Collin Moyo, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, Herbert Mabhabha, Mathew Ndlovu, Norman Zhikali, and Richard Hove. Lieutenant-General SB Moyo entered life at Mnene Mission Hospital in 1960.
SB Moyo attended Manama Secondary before joining Freedom Fighters in 1977. After independence, he climbed military ranks from major-general to lieutenant-general until retirement in December 2017. Former President Mugabe advanced his rank in 2016. He served as Foreign Affairs Minister until his death. Sikhanyiso "Duke" Ndlovu fought as a nationalist, taught as an educator, survived as a political prisoner, and dedicated himself to liberation. Born in 1937 at Mnene Mission Hospital, he died from health problems at Bulawayo Hospital in 2015.
His activism started around 1956 when he refused the segregated waiting area during travel. He fought with station staff, who took his ticket and threatened legal action. They backed down and returned his ticket. During South African studies, he joined the ANC Durban branch under Mtolo in 1959, participating in youth programs. Returning home in 1962, he led the Mpopoma Lease Holders Association with future hero Sydney Malunga as deputy. He simultaneously headed the Bulawayo Residents Association with future Vice President John Nkomo as secretary.
Using the codename "General Hokoyo," he ran underground resistance operations. Authorities detained him at Gonakudzingwa prison with other famous nationalists. After independence, he held various positions, including Information Minister from 2007 to 2008. Richard Hove became the first Public Service Minister in 1980. Born in 1932 in Mwembe village, Mberengwa district, Hove motivated fighters against colonial rule and gathered international support during the armed struggle.
He served as the first Mberengwa Member of Parliament and held cabinet posts, including Home Affairs, Trade, Mines, and Defense, between 1981 and 1992. Later, he worked as a Planning Commissioner until 2000. At his death, he served as ZANU PF Economic Secretary and Mberengwa Senator. Many more Midlands natives helped create a free Zimbabwe through unique contributions. Some paid with their lives. Today, 260 heroes from the Midlands rest at Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru.
Many great leaders from the Midlands sleep eternally at National Heroes Acre memorial grounds. Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo rests there after serving as Foreign Affairs Minister. Cephas Msipa lived from 1931 to 2016 and worked as a teacher, philanthropist, and government official after independence. He started with the ANC under Joshua Nkomo and later became Secretary for Foreign Affairs between 1971 and 1972. Msipa helped create unity between ZANU and ZAPU political parties, which formed the current ZANU-PF through the Unity Accord.
Josiah Magama Tongogara, born February 4, 1938, came from Shurugwi. His family lived on a farm belonging to Ian Smith's parents, where they worked. He finished basic education but missed secondary schooling. He moved to Zambia, studied bookkeeping, and found work as a golf club secretary. His revolutionary path began with ZANU youth activities in Zambia in 1963. He later traveled to China for military training as part of the first group sent there in 1966.
By 1973, he led the High Command and became ZANLA Commander. He attended both the Geneva Conference and signed the Lancaster House Agreement that ended the liberation war. A car crash took his life on December 26, 1979, and he received a burial at National Heroes Acre the following year. Shurugwi produced additional national heroes, including Garikayi Magadzire, Stephen Vuma, Clement Muchachi, and Lameck Makanda.
Magadzire succeeded as a farmer and pushed for small farm development throughout his life. Born in Shurugwi village, he passed away from health complications in 1996. As a teenager, he worked as a clerk but lost his position because of his age. A kind reverend sponsored his education at Pakame Mission. He attended another school until they expelled him for religious differences. He found work with Native Agriculture in 1959, which sparked his political awareness.
Meeting Joshua Nkomo at agriculture college changed his perspective when Nkomo explained colonial unfairness. Magadzire balanced farming passion with political activism throughout his career. He served as vice president for the African Farmers' Union from 1976 through 1978. He stayed active with farm leadership until the organizations merged into the Zimbabwe Farmers Union in 1991. Stephen Vuma, another freedom fighter and financial expert, died peacefully at home in Gweru in 1997. Born in 1936 under Chief Lukulaba, he mobilized citizens toward independence.
Colonial powers arrested him for activism in 1959. After his release, he worked briefly in Bulawayo before handling party finances in Tanzania. Traveling there, he met Mnangagwa, who connected him with party representatives Musarurwa and Ngwenya in Zambia. He returned to Zimbabwe in 1980 after years away, mostly spent between the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. At his death, he served on ZANU PF's Central Committee and as Deputy Finance Secretary. Lameck Makanda, former Senator and party official, rests among "nationalist elders" at National Heroes Acre.
Born in 1912 in Mvuma, Makanda died in Harare in 1992. He fought for freedom starting in the 1960s through the African National Congress. When authorities banned the ANC, he joined the National Democratic Party and rallied people against the colonial government. Mberengwa birthed additional freedom fighters, including Rugare Gumbo, Brigadier-General Collin Moyo, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, Herbert Mabhabha, Mathew Ndlovu, Norman Zhikali, and Richard Hove. Lieutenant-General SB Moyo entered life at Mnene Mission Hospital in 1960.
SB Moyo attended Manama Secondary before joining Freedom Fighters in 1977. After independence, he climbed military ranks from major-general to lieutenant-general until retirement in December 2017. Former President Mugabe advanced his rank in 2016. He served as Foreign Affairs Minister until his death. Sikhanyiso "Duke" Ndlovu fought as a nationalist, taught as an educator, survived as a political prisoner, and dedicated himself to liberation. Born in 1937 at Mnene Mission Hospital, he died from health problems at Bulawayo Hospital in 2015.
His activism started around 1956 when he refused the segregated waiting area during travel. He fought with station staff, who took his ticket and threatened legal action. They backed down and returned his ticket. During South African studies, he joined the ANC Durban branch under Mtolo in 1959, participating in youth programs. Returning home in 1962, he led the Mpopoma Lease Holders Association with future hero Sydney Malunga as deputy. He simultaneously headed the Bulawayo Residents Association with future Vice President John Nkomo as secretary.
Using the codename "General Hokoyo," he ran underground resistance operations. Authorities detained him at Gonakudzingwa prison with other famous nationalists. After independence, he held various positions, including Information Minister from 2007 to 2008. Richard Hove became the first Public Service Minister in 1980. Born in 1932 in Mwembe village, Mberengwa district, Hove motivated fighters against colonial rule and gathered international support during the armed struggle.
He served as the first Mberengwa Member of Parliament and held cabinet posts, including Home Affairs, Trade, Mines, and Defense, between 1981 and 1992. Later, he worked as a Planning Commissioner until 2000. At his death, he served as ZANU PF Economic Secretary and Mberengwa Senator. Many more Midlands natives helped create a free Zimbabwe through unique contributions. Some paid with their lives. Today, 260 heroes from the Midlands rest at Provincial Heroes Acre in Gweru.
