The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube and Tinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporters—
THE country’s Independence celebrations festivities are set to kick-start this evening in Bulawayo with the hosting of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs’ ball this evening at the Large City Hall. The traditional function is held on the eve of the main celebrations where companies and individuals come together to raise funds for the less privileged.
In an interview on Friday, Bulawayo provincial administrator Mrs Khonzani Ncube who chairs the local organising committee, said they were now doing the final touches in terms of preparing for both the ball and the provincial celebrations to be held at White City Stadium tomorrow.
“Everything is on course; the celebrations will start with the traditional fundraising Provincial Affairs Minister’s ball on Sunday evening (today), which will be held at the Large City Hall starting at 6.30pm.
“We are also now doing the final touches for the provincial celebrations which will be held at White City Stadium. We are calling on the community of Bulawayo to come in their numbers as we celebrate the country’s independence. Transport will be provided at different pick-up points in all the city’s 29 wards, food will also be provided at the venue,” said Mrs Ncube.
Meanwhile, multitudes of Zimbabweans are expected to throng various venues around the country tomorrow to celebrate the country’s 36th year as an independent nation.
The Independence Day national organising task force team has said all was set for the celebrations with President Mugabe expected to address the main celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
VP Mphoko chairs the national organising task force.
Minister of State in Vice-President Phekezela Mphoko’s office Cde Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga said the Government has hired buses to ferry people to various venues of the celebration in all the 10 provinces.
“Preparations are at a very advanced stage. We have secured transport to ferry people to various venues around the country and we anticipate huge turn-outs at national, provincial and district level,” she said.
She said this year’s Uhuru celebrations will be held in the same manner the country has traditionally celebrated the event.
The festivities kick off with the annual Children’s Party today where President Mugabe hosts scores of young Zimbabweans from all provinces. The Uhuru celebrations will also be hosted at provincial and district levels where Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and District Administrators respectively will lead proceedings and read the President’s speech.
Cde Kanengoni-Malinga said the President’s speech will be translated from English to various vernacular languages for people in different parts of the country to understand his message.
“The system is pretty much the same. We will host the celebrations in more or less the same manner we have hosted them before. The President’s speech will be translated into the various vernacular languages. So the officials who will read the President’s speech will deliver the message in the local language to avoid wasting a lot of time with interpretations,” she said.
Cde Kanengoni-Malinga called on Zimbabweans from all walks of life to converge on various venues of the celebrations in their numbers.
She said people should look at Independence Day celebrations as a national event, which should bring Zimbabweans together in the spirit unity. Cde Malinga added that various mouthwatering entertainment activities have been lined up to mark the event.
Commenting on the province’s preparations for the Uhuru celebrations, Matabeleland South provincial administrator, Mr Midard Khumalo said while the provincial celebrations were going to be held at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda they were also going to have mini-celebrations at district level.
“Everything is now set for celebrations at both provincial and district level. We set a target of
$6 000 for the celebrations and to date we have already managed to gather the bulk of food that is required for the celebrations. Therefore I am encouraging people from the province to converge at all the celebration points in the province so we all celebrate such a huge achievement by the country,” said Mr Khumalo.
Matabeleland North provincial administrator Ms Latiso Dlamini also confirmed that the province was ready to host the provincial celebrations tomorrow with Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Cain Mathema expected to deliver the President’s speech at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane. In Midlands the day will be marked at Mkoba Stadium. In Masvingo, Mucheke Stadium will be the venue for the celebrations, while Mashonaland Central province will host its commemoration at Chipadze Stadium in Bindura.
Thousands of people are expected to converge on Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera 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. Last year’s theme for the Independence Day celebrations was Zimbabwe @35: Consolidating Unity, Peace and Economic Sovereignty.
