On 4 November 2026, the Embassy of Italy in Zimbabwe celebrated the anniversary of National Unity and Armed Forces Day at the Italian Military Shrine of St. Francis in the city of Masvingo. This commemoration, attended by the Defence Attaché, Colonel Franco Linzalone, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the local Church, civil and military authorities and Italian nationals, represented an important moment to honour the memory of the Fallen and to express the most profound gratitude to the women and men in uniform.
The Church of St. Francis, where the remains of 71 Italian prisoners of war are laid to rest, represents a symbolic monument for Zimbabwe, which has been preserved for decades by the Italian Government. Next year, thanks to funding provided by the Ministry of Defence, the Shrine will undergo extensive restoration works aimed at preserving the structure and the frescoes inside it, and with it the memory of our compatriots and the highest values of the Italian Republic.
According to the Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Giacalone, “the date of 4 November represents a fundamental pillar of the national collective memory, because it recalls the memorable day on which the unification of Italy was completed, an achievement accomplished in the face of immense sacrifice. The celebration of 4 November is therefore an opportunity to commend the affirmation of peace as a supreme good to be cultivated and constantly built.”
The Italian Diplomat added that “the Church of St. Francis in Masvingo represents a monument of historical memory and identity, linked to the Italian community in Africa. It is also a symbol of the solid and close relationship between Italy and Zimbabwe, a country where many Italians have found a second home and where today, as in the past, they continue to contribute to enriching the local society.”
