National Heroes Acre, National war memorial in Harare, Zimbabwe
National Heroes Acre is a war memorial and cemetery on a ridge in Harare. The site contains several levels with graves, a tomb for the unknown soldier, and a tall tower with an eternal flame.
Construction began in September 1981, a year after independence, and was completed in 1982. Ten Zimbabwean and seven North Korean architects and artists mapped the layout, with 250 local workers at the height of the project. Black granite for the main structures was quarried at Mutoko, about 140 kilometres northeast of Harare.
The complex takes its name from the people buried here, who are recognized as national heroes. Visitors can see an exhibition of war items and photographs that show the lives of the fighters.
The site lies on a ridge seven kilometres from Harare towards Norton, so a vehicle is needed. The fan-shaped flight of dark steps and the stepped path to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier involve climbing; sturdy shoes help. The forty-metre tower with the Eternal Flame is the highest point and can be seen from the city.
The back of the site shows wall paintings that depict events from precolonial times through independence. The paintings run for several meters and tell the country's story in images.
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