The Sunday News
Updates by Stanford Chiwanga
14:06: The President is done speaking.
14:05: The President thanks civil servants for standing by the Government and says that the claim made in the newspaper that bonuses will be withdrawn will not happen. He says Cabinet did not approve the move. He says he and the Vice Presidents are disgusted by the announcement. He says the rules make it impossible for the Government to withdraw such a benefit.
14:02: The President expresses his shock and disgust and abhors the xenophobia attacks that occurred in Durban that saw six people killed. He says the ill-treatment of foreigners can never be condoned. He says if these are followers of King Zwelithini or any other person – they should know that this should never happen again. Africans should be treated with dignity. He says he’s glad President Zuma has expressed his abhorrence in regard to that incident and assured Africa that it’s the South African way but misguided elements. Measures have been taken to bring back Zimbabweans who want to come home the President says.
13:59: He applauds the security forces for maintaining peace within Zimbabwe’s borders. On The international scene they continue to make the country proud. He says during the 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea they made the country proud.
13:57: The President says we must not take our independence for granted.
13:55: The President says his thrust as Sadc chairman will be to drive the industrialization of the region. He applauds the security forces for maintaining peace within Zimbabwe’s borders. On The international scene they continue to make the country proud. He says during the 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea they made the country proud.
13:52: President Mugabe is pleased that all the countries major hospitals have been retooled, particularly the theatre departments. He bemoans the lack of specialist doctors and urges the country to aspire to produce specialist doctors.
13:50: The President says it is the Government’s plan to empower women politically and economically. He says the Government wants to also increase the funding of BEAM to ensure that vulnerable children have access to education.
13:45: President Mugabe says the Government is pursuing many power projects to increase the country’s power generation capacity and decrease it’s reliance on imported electricity.
13:40: The largest mechanisation programme by Government to date will be launched soon. The President says the 2014 budget implementation process experienced expenditure pressures driven by high employment costs as a result Government faces challenges in funding development programmes.
13:38: President Mugabe says there is reason to celebrate because the economy grew by 3, 1 percent in 2014. This was driven by better performance in mining, agriculture and construction.
13:35: President Mugabe says there are foreign investors willing to assist in the implementation of ZimAsset. The President says the erratic rains will not result in starvation. He says the Government has put in place measures to make sure no one starves.
13:32: President Mugabe thanks Zimbabwe’s all-weather friends including China and Russia for standing by Zimbabwe before and after independence.
13:30: President Mugabe says we stand together in solid unity regardless of political affiliation. He says we rightly deserve to celebrate 35 years of independence even in the face of seemingly insurmountable trials and tribulations
1316: Host Minister Ignatius Chombo has been invited to the podium.
1308: Chaplain General of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Colonel Joseph Nyakudya is now on the podium to give a sermon and prayer.
13:05: President Mugabe gets a standing ovation after setting alight the Independence torch. ICT Minister Supa Mandiwanzira now leading the proceedings.
12:50: It’s raining at the National Sports Stadium but one think is certain – the birthday celebrations will go on and the atmosphere will not be dampened.
12:25: President Mugabe has arrived at the National Sports Stadium. He’s accompanied by the First Lady Umama Grace Mugabe. The national anthem has been sung.
12:20: Black Americans supported Zimbabwe’s war of liberation. It came as no surprise that in August 1986 American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson came to Zimbabwe to attend the eight summit of the Non-Aligned Countries.
12:05: Sometime in June 1980 people gathered at Zimbabwe grounds (then known as Harare Fields) to listen to President Mugabe speak about the freedom attained. 35 years down the line the President and Zimbabwe still celebrate freedom.
11:55: Flashback – Below – then Prime Minister, President Mugabe signs the Declaration of Independence in 1980 18 April with President Canaan Banana.
11:35: Before independence Zimbabwean’s had no right to vote. Independence gave the black man and woman the power to choose a political leadership he or she wants.
11:22: The Rhodesian forces were stronger than the liberators because they had all the war machinery but the liberators had the power of the people and people power prevailed.
11:15: The cold weather has not stopped people from turning up at the National Sports Stadium in their numbers to celebrate the birth and growth of Zimbabwe.
11:09: Happy birthday Zimbabwe you are 35 today. It’s all thanks to the liberators who left their families, their loved ones, their friends to pick up arms to white the repressive Rhodesian government.
