admin
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
Manicaland Province will on Tuesday, 18 April, join the rest of the country in commemorating 43 years of independence, with thousands of people from all walks of life expected to throng Sakubva Stadium in Mutare for the provincial celebrations.
This year’s national celebrations are slated for Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central Province, where President Mnangagwa will deliver the keynote address.
In Manicaland, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokhutula Matsikenyere will lead the provincial celebrations and read the President’s speech at Sakubva Stadium.
Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Edgars Seenza said the stage was set for the provincial commemorations.
“Preparations for the provincial commemorations are at an advanced stage, with various committees spearheading that task. The provincial event will be held at Sakubva Stadium while district commemorations will be held at the traditional points.
“We are still in the process of mobilising resources for the events and I am happy that we have received significant assistance from both the Government and well-wishers such that by next week, we will have enough resources.
“Everyone is welcome for the commemorations and we are expecting people from all walks of life in the province to turn up in their numbers at the respective venues to celebrate this special day in our country’s history,” said Mr Seenza.
He said the Ministry of Health and Child Care will play a leading role to avert the risk of spreading cholera at the event.
“This year, food will not be cooked at the venue to avoid spreading Cholera. People will be given pre-packed food,” said Mr Seenza.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Manicaland chairman, Cde Gift Kagweda, said 43 years of self-governance were momentous in the country’s history, adding that every citizen must take time to reflect on the significance of the day.
Cde Kagweda said the country’s independence came through the barrel of the gun and loss of lives.
“For the past 43 years, Zimbabweans have been enjoying liberties that were previously being denied by the oppressive Ian Smith regime. As we enjoy our country’s independence, we must be cognisant of the sacrifices made by both our fallen and living heroes and heroines.
“We urge the younger generation to defend the gains of independence by emulating our heroes and heroines who made the supreme sacrifice for our emancipation through participating in the liberation war.
“Some of Zimbabwe’s gallant sons and daughters are still lying in shallow graves across the country, crying for decent reburials,’ said Cde Kagweda.
“We still have comrades who are yet to be accorded decent reburials, and their families are yet to find closure. As war veterans, on Friday (today), we are launching an organisation called Manicaland Identification, Verification, Exhumation and Reburial of Fallen Heroes (MIVERFH), which will be spearheading the reburial of our fallen heroes and ensuring that the families of those who perished during the war find closure,” said Cde Kagweda.
He added that war veterans still bear the scars of the brutalities of the ruthless colonial regime, and therefore our freedom should be guarded jealously.
A number of youths who spoke to The Manica Post said the ball is now in their court in defending the gains of the liberation struggle through the maintenance of peace and economically developing the country.
Since independence, Government has been investing heavily in areas that directly benefit the youths, especially in the education, health, mining and agriculture sectors.
Zanu PF provincial youth chairman, Cde Stanley Sakupwanya said as the country celebrates 43 years of independence, the young generation should jealously guard the country’s hard worn sovereignty by being patriotic and getting involved in the country’s economic empowerment programmes to uplift the citizens’ livelihoods.
“Zimbabwe @43 is a time for us to reflect on where we’ve come from as a country. The youth of yesteryear were the ones who fought for this freedom. They are the ones who fought for our land, and as the youth of today we should follow our President’s Vision 2030 to fight for economic prosperity.
“As the Zanu PF Youth League, we say ‘Makorokoto Zimbabwe on 43 years of freedom, growth and development’. We will never betray the gains of the liberation struggle,” said Cde Sakupwanya.
Mutasa Central MP (CCC), Honourable Trevor Saruwaka said Zimbabweans must unite in commemorating 43 years of independence.
“Many thanks to all the gallant fighters and millions of other Zimbabweans who played positive roles towards our attainment of independence. Our independence was a culmination of efforts from people of diverse backgrounds, races, tribes, religions and social standings.
They were all inspired by the desire to end oppression, racism, favouritism, nepotism, discrimination, poverty, suffering and marginalisation among the vices brought about by colonisation,” he said.
Hon Saruwaka said Zimbabwe must vigorously fight corruption which has the potential to reverse the country’s economic growth.
Youths in Agriculture Apex Council coordinator, Mr Farai Mapfumo said the youth is raising the country’s flag high in the agriculture sector as an appreciation of the sacrifices made by fallen and living heroes.
“As we celebrate 43 years of independence, the youths in agriculture would like to extend our profound gratitude and salute those who sacrificed their lives. We cannot separate the Land Reform Programmme from the liberation war as the war was waged to reclaim our land.
“We are the vanguard of our independence. We are now occupying fertile farming land due to the independence we enjoy today. It is our role as youths to appreciate and protect the gains of the liberation struggle. We must never denigrate our motherland,” said Mr Mapfumo.
Online Reporter