Skip to main content
National Heroes’ Acre is Zimbabwe’s national shrine and burial ground for people declared national heroes, on a ridge about 7 km west of central Harare. Building began in September 1981 and the cemetery was completed in 1982. It is run by National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ), which lists adult entry at US$10 for non-residents and US$4 for local residents. Written by Bryan Fawcett.
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026 against National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) pages and its online ticket shop, the Zimbabwe Field Guide, and Wikipedia’s article on the site. Full list under Sources.

​
What Heroes’ Acre is

Heroes’ Acre honours people who died in Zimbabwe’s liberation war, the Second Chimurenga, and other Zimbabweans whose service to the country the state recognises. According to NMMZ, the President designates heroes under the National Heroes Act [Chapter 10:16]. National hero status is the highest of three levels, and only national heroes are entitled to burial here. The site covers about 23 hectares. Wikipedia’s list counted 161 burials by November 2022. They include Joshua Nkomo, Herbert Chitepo and Sally Mugabe. Hero status is decided by the government of the day, and who is (and is not) buried here has long been debated in Zimbabwe. You can visit as a heritage site without taking a side.

​
History and design

  • Planned and built: construction started in September 1981, a year after independence, and the cemetery was finished in 1982.
  • Who built it: ten Zimbabwean and seven North Korean architects and artists laid out the site, with up to 250 local workers at the peak. The design is closely modelled on the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery near Pyongyang and is an early work of the North Korean firm Mansudae Overseas Projects.
  • Stone: the black granite of the main structures came from Mutoko, about 140 km north-east of Harare.
  • Layout: seen from the air, the monument is widely described as two AK-47 rifles placed back to back, with the graves as their magazines.
For the wider story of the liberation war, see our Historic sites overview.

​
What to see

  • Eternal Flame: on top of a tower about 40 metres high, the highest point of the site. It was lit at the 1982 independence celebrations and can be seen from Harare.
  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: honours fighters whose remains were never found. It includes a bronze statue of three guerrillas, one woman and two men, and a flagpole.
  • Bronze friezes and murals: two walls on either side of the monument show Zimbabwe’s history from before colonial rule to independence.
  • Graves: the terraced graves of national heroes, below the monument.
  • Museum: near the entrance, with artefacts, photographs and documents on African nationalism and the liberation struggle.
  • Views: the hilltop looks back over the city.

​
Visiting

​
Entry fees (US$)

These are the prices in NMMZ’s online ticket shop on 25 October 2026. NMMZ does not list a separate SADC rate. Carry US dollars in small notes.
Heroes’ Day, the second Monday of August, is a public holiday with the main national ceremony at Heroes’ Acre. Access may be limited around national ceremonies and state funerals, so check with NMMZ before you go.

​
Etiquette

  • It is a cemetery and a national shrine. Dress modestly, keep your voice down and do not climb on the monuments or graves.
  • Carry identification. The Zimbabwe Field Guide advises carrying ID and visiting in a group.
  • Photography: we could not find a published rule. Ask staff at the gate before taking photos, and never photograph a funeral or ceremony without permission.
  • Politics: the site is closely tied to the governing party’s history. Listen to guides with respect, and save debate for elsewhere.

​
Combine it with

Historic sites

Zimbabwe's museums

Harare

Zimbabwe history timeline

​
Sources

Last modified on October 25, 2026