The crowd gathered at the Parliamentary Grounds rose for a moment of reflection as the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) ceremonial band trumpeter sounded The Last Post, a British and Commonwealth bugle call performed at ceremonies commemorating those who died in military combat.On February 27, 38 years after 15 BDF soldiers were killed by the Rhodesian army in Lesoma at the Chobe Enclave, President Advocate Duma Boko, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, led the Fallen Heroes Day commemoration.

Accompanied by Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe and Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, the President and other dignitaries laid wreaths at the BDF Monument and the World War II Memorial site at Parliament Grounds. Observed since 2011, February 27 was initially dedicated by the BDF to honour those who perished in the Lesoma Ambush. 

However, it has since been formally recognised as Fallen Heroes Day, commemorating all military personnel who died in the line of duty. In an interview, a survivor of the Lesoma ambush, retired Major Hudson Mosweu, recalled the events of that fateful day during Zimbabwe’s war of independence, commonly referred to as the Rhodesian Bush War.

Two freedom fighters of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), the armed wing of Joshua Nkomo’s Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), had fled into Botswana following a combat mission in then-Rhodesia. They were pursued across the border by the Rhodesian army.

“The Rhodesian soldiers went across, moving across Lesoma looking for the two freedom fighters and we were alerted by Lesoma villagers at our BDF base camp that they were being harrased by the foreign army. We went there, cleared the bush and found the two Zimbabwean freedom fighters. As we left, we were ambushed, 15 BDF soldiers were killed, and one of the two boys who came to call us, and one Zimbabwean freedom fighter also died,” Major Mosweu said.

As the ceremony concluded, the national flag, Presidential Standard and BDF flag, which had been flying at half-mast were raised. 

The BDF band then performed the Reveille, a military bugle call primarily used to awaken personnel at sunrise, symbolising a nation once under siege rising in remembrance and resilience. ENDS