Homestretch for Uhuru celebrations

Sunday News Reporter 

A SEA of people are expected to converge on Murambinda, Buhera District in Manicaland Province on Thursday for this year’s National Independence Day celebrations where President Mnangagwa will deliver the keynote address.

In terms of numbers, 70 000 to 100 000 people are expected to grace the illustrious national event.

The 18 April Independence Day celebrations will be held at Murambinda A Primary School and Murambinda B Secondary School under the theme “Zim@44: Unity, Peace and Development Towards Vision 2030”. 

The commemorations mark the third consecutive year the national Uhuru celebrations will be held outside the capital — Harare, after Bulawayo and Mashonaland Central’s Mt Darwin hosted the previous editions respectively, in line with the Second Republic’s decentralisation agenda to leave no one and no place behind. 

The Government has mobilised 300 buses to ferry people from around the country to Murambinda, with 150 coaches reserved for the host province.

Other logistics are also on course with the newly-built stadium that will host the main event at Murambinda B Secondary School virtually complete.

It is expected to be a grand fete with authorities saying free food packs will be provided for the tens of thousands that will attend the event.

Food vending will be restricted in line with protocols to curb potential cases of cholera. 

Responding to enquiries from the Sunday News yesterday, the Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Gabriel Masvora said it was all systems go for the grand occasion.

“More than 70 000 people are expected for the main celebrations. The festivities will start with the Children’s Party on the eve of the Independence Day celebrations where 300 children are expected to grace the event from all corners of the country,” Mr Masvora said.

He said the 300 buses will ferry people to and from Murambinda.

“Of those, 150 buses are earmarked for the host province. The remainder will cater for the other remaining nine provinces. We also have guests who will be driving in their vehicles for the celebrations. It’s all systems go in terms of the groundwork,” said Mr Masvora.

The main celebrations will be followed by the mouth-watering football encounter pitting giants Dynamos FC and Highlanders FC who will battle it out for the Independence Trophy. 

An all-night music gala featuring the country’s top artistes will be icing on the proceedings.

Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution are expected to preside over their respective provincial celebrations.

In separate interviews yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland North Ms Sithandiwe Ncube said all was in place for the provincial celebrations which will be held at Manjolo Business Centre in Binga District.

“You will be aware that nationally, the Second Republic has been rotating the national events from province to province. We have also adopted the same as a province and this year we will be in Binga. Last year we were in Umguza District, taking the independence celebrations away from the traditional Lupane Centre.

“In terms of preparations, all is in place for the day. We will have entertainment from various groups particularly the traditional groups from Binga, various sporting activities among other activities. There are tentatively 10 buses with each district getting one and three for the host district. Two buses will also go to the national event while one bus will also ferry children for their party there,” said Ms Ncube.

Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Permanent Secretary Mr Paul Nyoni also said all was in place for the provincial event which will be held at White City Stadium.

“We are ready to host the event and we expect close to 6 000 people at the event. Ten groups will be providing entertainment during the day. We are also going to have a special soccer exhibition match from amputees,” said Mr Nyoni.

In Matabeleland South, authorities said all was in place for the event to be held at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda Town. 

In Manicaland, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza said “preparations are 90 percent complete’’.

“Other areas have reached 100 percent preparation. Roads which will lead us to the venue are 90 percent ready. The Murambinda-Birchenough Road is now a neat highway. Nyazura to Chivhu highway used to have potholes but that is now history. Other feeder roads are all done. 

“The stadium is almost complete. Workers are putting terraces, drawing lines for the pitch, and putting final touches to the changing rooms.”

He said in addition to the 150 buses provided by Government, the province is also mobilising hundreds of lorries and other forms of transport.

“We are not only looking at buses but lorries and cars. So far 100 000 litres of fuel have been mobilised and we are expecting more. I am not expecting less than 1 000 cars and lorries for this programme. Buses are for the elderly but all youths can get into the lorries singing and celebrating the country.” 

Advocate Mugadza added: “On food, we are saying it will be provided for free, so there should be no vendors cooking food, and that will help prevent cholera.”

Masvingo Province, which borders Buhera will have 10 buses to ferry people to the national celebrations venue and more than 10 coaches for its provincial festivities in Chivi.

Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Masvingo Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa on Friday said:

“We have 10 buses and two lorries that have been set aside for the National Independence Day celebrations in Murambinda and we expect the majority of people who will go to Buhera to come from neighbouring Gutu District. This is why we have rehabilitated roads like the Gutu-Murambinda.”

He added: “We are expecting a record 10 000 people to attend the provincial celebrations in Chivi and preparations are going according to plan. We have been holding our preparatory meetings at the venue at Madyangove Secondary School and 11 buses have been set aside to ferry people to the provincial celebrations where the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Ezra Chadzamira will preside.”

Mashonaland East Province, which also borders Buhera has been allocated about 30 buses for the national event and its provincial festivities to be held at Mandedza High School in Seke District.

Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Mr Tavabarira Kutamahufa said preparations for the provincial celebrations are at an advanced stage.

“We are putting the final touches on preparations. We have mobilised buses and other means of transport to transport people across the province to our provincial independence celebrations venue. We will have a lot of activities, including entertainment on the day.”

Midlands’ provincial Independence Day celebrations will for the first time since 1980 held at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe away from its traditional venue, the provincial capital Gweru.

Midlands’ Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Owen Ncube said: “The change of the traditional venue for Kwekwe was testimony to the Second Republic’s quest of leaving no one and no place behind in national development.”

In Mashonaland West, the provincial celebrations are slated for Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma.

Mashonaland West Permanent Secretary Mr Josphat Jaji said all was in place.

“At least 14 buses have been secured to ferry people to the national and provincial venues with five set aside to transport people to Kadoma. The province expects at least 6 500 people to attend its provincial celebrations,” Mr Jaji said.