10/08/2026
🇿🇼 *ZNOART HEROES’ DAY & DEFENCE FORCES DAY MESSAGE 2026*
_HONOURING OUR HEROES THROUGH BETTER SERVICE DELIVERY_
As Zimbabwe commemorates Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day, the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) calls upon all Zimbabweans to reflect on the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle and to translate our patriotism into meaningful action that improves the lives of our people.
Our liberation heroes sacrificed for the freedom, sovereignty and development of Zimbabwe. Honouring their legacy today must go beyond ceremonies and speeches. It must include building a country where every citizen has access to reliable basic services, decent housing, clean water, sanitation, functional infrastructure, quality healthcare and a safe and healthy environment.
*HEALTHCARE MUST IMPROVE*
Our health system requires continued Government intervention and investment to ensure that medicines are available, healthcare services improve and quality healthcare is accessible to every Zimbabwean, regardless of where they live or their economic circumstances.
A healthy nation is a productive nation. Healthcare must therefore remain a national development priority.
*DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE: A NATIONAL DISASTER*
ZNOART considers the drug and substance abuse menace to be a serious national crisis requiring urgent and coordinated action.
We commend law-enforcement agencies for efforts to arrest drug dealers and dismantle drug networks. However, enforcement alone will not solve the problem.
Zimbabwe needs a comprehensive response involving:
- More rehabilitation and treatment centres.
- Community-based rehabilitation programmes.
- Rehabilitation facilities accessible at ward and district level.
- Stronger action against drug traffickers and dealers.
- Prevention and awareness programmes targeting young people.
- Greater support for affected families and communities.
- Strong partnerships between Government, communities, civil society and other stakeholders.
Families and communities are being destroyed by substance abuse. We must act decisively today to protect future generations.
Let us build a Zimbabwe where young people have opportunities, hope and a future free from drugs.
*BETTER ROADS FOR BETTER COMMUNITIES*
Zimbabwe needs better roads.
Poor and deteriorating roads, particularly in residential suburbs, contribute to congestion, vehicle damage, longer travelling times and increased road-safety risks.
ZNOART calls upon Government and local authorities to accelerate the rehabilitation, upgrading and routine maintenance of roads in our cities, towns and residential communities.
Road infrastructure is not a luxury. It is essential national infrastructure supporting economic activity, public transport, emergency services and the daily lives of residents.
⚡ *EMBRACING NEW ENERGY SOLUTIONS*
Zimbabwe must continue exploring innovative and sustainable ways of generating electricity.
ZNOART encourages greater investment in solar energy and other renewable-energy solutions, particularly for critical public infrastructure such as water-treatment plants, hospitals, schools and other essential services.
Reliable electricity is fundamental to reliable water supply, business activity, industry and household welfare.
We must therefore embrace an energy mix that strengthens national resilience and reduces the vulnerability of essential services to power interruptions.
*SUPPORTING OUR INFORMAL ECONOMY*
Zimbabwe has a significant informal economy, with vendors and small businesses providing livelihoods for thousands of families.
Instead of treating informal traders only as a problem, authorities should provide properly planned, serviced and accessible designated markets where vendors can operate legally, safely and with dignity.
These markets should:
- Be accessible to residents.
- Have adequate water and sanitation facilities.
- Provide appropriate waste-management systems.
- Have proper security and infrastructure.
- Be integrated into urban planning.
A well-organised informal economy can contribute significantly to employment, household incomes and national economic development.
_Our Duty as Resident'_ *RESIDENTS: PLEASE PAY YOUR BILLS*
ZNOART also wishes to remind residents that service delivery comes with responsibilities.
Residents must pay their municipal bills and other legitimate service charges.
We cannot demand reliable water, refuse collection, roads, street lighting and other municipal services while refusing to meet our obligations.
At the same time, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that residents receive value for money, transparent billing, accountable financial management and services that justify the charges being imposed.
Residents must pay their bills — and authorities must deliver the services for which residents are paying.
💧 **THE STATE OF WATER PROVISION*
*
Clean and reliable water remains a major concern in many urban and peri-urban communities.
Ageing municipal water infrastructure continues to experience frequent bursts and significant water losses, while power interruptions can disrupt water treatment and distribution, leaving some communities without water for prolonged periods.
Community and Government-supported boreholes have provided important temporary relief, but Zimbabwe needs sustainable, reliable and properly maintained piped-water systems capable of serving our growing towns and cities.
ZNOART therefore calls for:
- Investment in the rehabilitation and modernisation of water infrastructure.
- Replacement of ageing pipelines to reduce water losses.
- Reliable power solutions for water treatment and distribution.
- Expansion and protection of sustainable water sources.
- Greater transparency and accountability in water infrastructure projects.
- Strong partnerships between Government, local authorities and the private sector.
- Effective maintenance programmes to prevent infrastructure deterioration.
Water is life, and reliable water supply must remain a national priority.
*THE CHALLENGE OF REFUSE COLLECTION*
Irregular refuse collection remains another serious challenge facing many communities.
When collection schedules fail, illegal dumping increases, bins overflow and communities are exposed to serious public-health and environmental risks.
ZNOART recognises national clean-up initiatives being implemented by Government, including National Clean-Up Day, as well as the important work undertaken by institutions such as the Environmental Management Agency.
However, clean-up campaigns cannot replace consistent, reliable and sustainable municipal refuse collection.
Every city and town requires functional waste-management systems, including:
- Regular and reliable refuse collection.
- Adequate and functional refuse-collection vehicles.
- Modern waste-transfer and processing facilities.
- Recycling and waste-to-resource initiatives.
- Strong enforcement against illegal dumping.
- Public participation and community environmental education.
- Sustainable financing of municipal waste-management services.
- mandatory participation in cleanin up homes and communities
Residents must also play their part by keeping their communities clean and disposing of waste responsibly.
*PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS*
ZNOART supports the responsible use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in sectors such as water, waste management, infrastructure and other essential municipal services.
Well-regulated and transparent PPPs can mobilise investment, modernise infrastructure, improve efficiency and strengthen service delivery.
We therefore call for the expansion of successful PPP models to cities and towns where they can demonstrably improve public services.
However, PPPs must be:
- Transparent.
- Accountable.
- Properly regulated.
- Affordable and sustainable.
- Subject to appropriate community oversight.
- Structured to deliver measurable public benefits.
The ultimate objective must always be better services for residents.
*OUR HEROES FOUGHT FOR LAND — NOT FOR LAND BARONS*
Our liberation heroes fought for the land and sovereignty of Zimbabwe.
They did not fight for land barons to take over wetlands, communal land, rural land or urban land through illegal land deals, including so-called “vsabhuku” arrangements, or other unlawful land transactions.
ZNOART calls for the protection of:
- Wetlands.
- Agricultural land.
- Communal land.
- Public spaces.
- Recreational areas.
- Environmentally sensitive areas.
We strongly oppose illegal land sales, land invasions and environmentally destructive developments.
Land must be properly planned, lawfully allocated and managed in a manner that benefits present and future generations.
🇿🇼 *OUR PATRIOTIC RESPONSIBILITY*
True patriotism means taking responsibility for the country we inherited and the Zimbabwe we are building.
Government and local authorities must treat water, sanitation, waste management, roads, housing, electricity and other basic public services as essential national infrastructure.
At the same time, residents have responsibilities.
Residents must:
- Keep their homes and communities clean.
- Pay their legitimate service bills.
- Avoid illegal dumping.
- Protect public infrastructure.
- Conserve water.
- Use public facilities responsibly.
- Report illegal land sales and environmental degradation.
- Participate in community development programmes.
- Hold responsible authorities accountable through lawful and constructive engagement.
Citizenship is not only about demanding rights; it is also about fulfilling responsibilities.
🇿🇼 *HONOUR THE HEROES — SERVE THE PEOPLE — BUILD ZIMBABWE*
As we celebrate Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day, ZNOART calls upon Government, local authorities, the private sector, traditional leaders, residents’ associations and communities to work together to build cities and towns where:
Clean water flows.
Refuse is collected.
Roads are maintained.
Electricity is reliable.
Wetlands are protected.
Land is properly managed.
Infrastructure works.
Residents pay their bills.
Authorities are accountable.
And every Zimbabwean can live with dignity.
The greatest tribute to our heroes is not only remembering what they sacrificed for Zimbabwe, but ensuring that the Zimbabwe we build today is worthy of their sacrifice.
🇿🇼 _HAPPY HEROES’ DAY & DEFENCE FORCES DAY 2026_
*Inserted by:*
Shepherd Shalvar Chikomba (ZNOART NATIONAL CHAIRMAN )
0772882545
*ABOUT ZNOART*
The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) is an apex body representing residents and residents’ associations across Zimbabwe.
*OUR FOCUS AREAS*
Service Delivery
• Community Development
• Infrastructure Development
• Environment & Waste Management
• Healthcare
• Gender & Social Welfare
• Transparency & Accountability
• Drug & Substance Abuse
*ZNOART — VOICE OF RESIDENTS*
“ _Build for Future Generations.”_
Clean Communities. Better Services. Accountable Local Governance. A Better Zimbabwe.
*Contact ZNOART On :*
WhatsApp Hotline 0776075414
Email :[email protected]
Twitter X :
Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
Shalvar Chikomba
Parliamentof Zimbabwe
Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services
ZBC News Online
Ministry of Local Government and Public Works
Environmental Management Agency
Angel of Hope Foundation
Helcraw Water
Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd
