admin
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
THE City of Bulawayo will on 1 June be celebrating 125 years since its declaration as a town with a number of activities lined up as part of the festivities.
The peak of the celebrations will be the launch of Bulawayo at 125 which will also include a carnival and a procession around the city. Bulawayo was declared a town by Dr Leander Starr Jameson on 1 June 1894 and subsequently attained city status in 1943. The city also had its first advisory board in 1894. The local authority’s senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu revealed that the celebrations are being held under the theme; #Reimagine Bulawayo.
“As the city turns 125 years old, various activities will be held during the month of June and beyond to commemorate this milestone. The main anniversary celebration will be held at the City Hall Car Park on Saturday, 1st June 2019. They will commence with a Carnival from the Inxwala Site and Railway Station passing through historic sites in the city.
“The celebrations will be focused on; commemorating the historical milestone for the city on 1 June 2019, enhancing community spirit and identity, celebrating the lives of the people who have played an influential role in the development of the city, enhancing and strengthen relationships with the city of Bulawayo and stakeholders and building confidence and trust in the future of Bulawayo,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said various stakeholders and corporates have partnered the city to make the celebrations memorable.
“The first event for the celebrations will be the Culture Week at Entumbane Hall on Wednesday, 22 May 2019. Some of the other planned activities for the celebrations include tours at historical sites, business breakfast, cultural exhibition, business dinner, golf tournament, day of prayer and thanksgiving, cultural food expo, public lectures, schools competitions on quiz, poetry, traditional dances and drama, motor racing, Bulawayo at 125 clean-up campaign, mini -fashion show, gospel music events and a Bulawayo sports day,” she said.
Although Mrs Mpofu could not reveal what the council was setting aside in terms of financial resources for the celebration but according to a council report five years ago when the city celebrated 120 years a total of $131 627 had been raised for the commemorations.
Online Reporter