HEAVILY-armed riot police and troops were on guard Wednesday as President Robert Mugabe delivered his annual “Heroes’ Day” address, which has in the past been disrupted by disgruntled war veterans. But as the president promised continued support for the former guerrillas who helped bring him to power at independence in 1980, the crowd of a few thousand at the “Heroes’ Acre” national shrine remained passive. Mugabe reminded the veterans that they had received financial assistance and pledged that “whatever issues are still outstanding will in future be accorded the priority they deserve.”