The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
ALL is set for the 37th Independence Day anniversary on Tuesday, with thousands of Zimbabweans from all walks of life expected to throng the giant National Sports Stadium, in Harare for the main celebrations.
Provincial celebrations will be held in the other nine provinces across the country where thousands are also expected to attend.
Celebrations will also be held at district level in different parts of the country. President Mugabe will address the main celebrations, while Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will read the President’s speech in their respective provinces.
Organisers have expressed satisfaction at the preparations for the Uhuru festivity thus far. Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere said the venue for the main celebrations was ready.
“So far so good. We are raring to go. All the requirements are in place and everything is under control. We are in top gear and almost ready. The venue is now ready and I can safely say we are satisfied with the overall organisation,” he said.
Cde Kasukuwere said provinces were also ready to host the celebrations and urged Zimbabweans to throng the various venues of the festivity.
“The provinces are also ready. I’ve received updates from all the organising committees in all the provinces and I’m satisfied with the progress they have made so far. We are geared to go,” he said.
Several entertainment activities have been lined up for the event, with mass displays from the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police and school children expected to highlight the entertainment menu.
“On the entertainment side, all the entertainers are ready. We are going to have displays courtesy of the army and police. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will also entertain us with mass displays from the school children,” he said.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education introduced Mass Displays as of the new learning under the new education curriculum framework that was introduced at the beginning of this year.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya said this year’s Independence celebration were significant as the country looks set to record a successful agricultural season.
“We are celebrating independence at a time when we are beginning to see signs of improvement in our economy. In agriculture, we are poised for a bumper harvest. That is definitely something worth celebrating considering that we are coming from a severe drought. We had good rains and most people ought to thank God for that. The Government gave people land and with that in mind, there is every reason for people to celebrate,” he said.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Cde Dennis Ndlovu said this year’s Independence Celebrations were significant as Zimbabweans will celebrate not only their political freedom, but economic emancipation which came about through the Zanu-PF Government’s empowerment programmes.
“We are not only free but we are empowered. When we talked about job creation we didn’t talk about opening big factories for people to seek employment but we were talking about creating opportunities for people to work. We have achieved that. We have small-scale miners, farmers and entrepreneurs and we should celebrate that. We should also celebrate our peace. If you go anywhere in the world, when we talk about peace come to Zimbabwe. Despite all our challenges which of course we are working on, we are the most peaceful people in the world. We should celebrate that,” he said.
With the 60 000-seater National Sport Stadium hosting the main Uhuru Celebrations, the provincial celebrations will be hosted at the traditional venues. In Bulawayo the celebrations will be held at White City Stadium, while in Matabeleland South the event will be at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda.
Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane will host the Matabeleland North celebrations while in the Midlands the day will be marked at Mkoba Stadium. In Masvingo, Mucheke Stadium will be the venue for the celebrations, while Mashonaland Central will host its commemoration at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura. Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera is the venue for the Mashonaland East provincial Uhuru celebrations and in Manicaland the day will be marked at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare. Nemakonde High School in Chinhoyi is the venue for the Mashonaland West provincial Independence Day celebrations.
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