At least 50 freedom fighters who died during the liberation war will be reburied in Bikita after prominent farmer and aspiring Bikita senator Dr Munyaradzi Kereke donated US$100 000 for the programme.

Authorities have already started identifying unmarked graves with the help of relatives and war veterans from the district.

The reburials are expected to be complete in the next three months.

In an interview yesterday, Dr Kereke said he was responding to requests by the local war veterans' leadership and relatives for the re-burials. Dr Kereke was recently co-opted as the Zanu-PF finance secretary for Mungezi in Bikita West.

He, however, attacked Finance Minister Tendai Biti for failing to budget for decent burial for fallen heroes.

"There are hundreds of freedom fighters whose remains are lying in caves and unmarked graves throughout the country.

"These are crying out for decent burials, but Minister Biti has not been providing funding for such a noble cause."

He urged Zimbabweans to cherish sacrifices made by the fallen heroes.

"It is surprising that we have a Minister of Finance who is not willing to set aside even a small fund to finance the reburial exercise," he said.

Dr Kereke said he looked forward to liberate the district from the stranglehold of the MDC-T in his new role in the party.

He said 2013 would be the year of victory for the revolutionary party in Bikita over imperialist proxies.

It was critical, he said, for the Bikita people to "deliver a crushing blow to the MDC formations as a way of expressing gratitude to President Mugabe for empowering Zimbabweans through the land reform programme".

Dr Kereke recently donated US$7 000 for the renovation of Bikita District Heroes Acre.

He also donated 30 tonnes of maize from his Pamene Farm to freedom fighters and their relatives in the district.