The Chinhoyi Seven Heroes Monument (CSHM) in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province has opened, providing operators with a new add-on to their tourism packages in the area.

The monument, managed by the National Museums and Monument of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) is less than a kilometre from Chinhoyi, along the Harare-Chirundu highway.

This memorial marks the place where the Seven Heroes of the April 28, 1966 Battle of Chinhoyi perished in a fiery military contact with the Rhodesian Forces. The battle signalled the beginning of the armed struggle that brought independence to Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980.

NMMZ Director, Dr Godfrey Mahachi, says the monument site also has an open-air museum that provides information regarding the 1966 battle. The site also provides rich Zimbabwean history.

“The construction of the monument and the museum has since been completed. Small finishing is currently being made to visitors’ facilities and they will be completed in a week’s time. A restaurant is under development and will be completed soon.” He says the aim is to ensure that services for visitors are available at the site.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority says the monument is set to be a key highlight of Chinhoyi tourism packages.