Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
PREPARATIONS for Zimbabwe’s 45th Independence Day celebrations at Nembudziya, Gokwe North District, are progressing well, with major projects now 70 percent complete.
Running under the theme “Zim @ 45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030,” the national event is expected to bring together over 100 000 people from all 10 provinces to commemorate the country’s milestones and achievements.
As part of the festivities, the Children’s Party, hosted by the First Family, will be held on April 17 at Nyamuroro High School, where over 3 000 child delegates will be accommodated from April 15 to 19. The Independence Gala will be on Independence Eve at Nembudziya Government High School.
The celebrations will feature the lighting of the Independence Flame, the traditional Torch Relay, and various cultural performances, including traditional dance groups and artistes from Kwekwe, Gokwe and surrounding districts.
Football fans can look forward to matches featuring Simba Bhora and FC Platinum during the main celebrations, while Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos will play at the Children’s Party.
Hosting the national event has catalysed massive infrastructural development in Gokwe North and South, leaving behind legacy projects for the province. Key developments include the drilling of over 120 boreholes across Gokwe North and South, including some at the event sites, the construction of two state-of-the-art boys’ and girls’ hostels at Nyamuroro Secondary School for the Children’s Party, rehabilitation of Nembudziya High School, including the erection of a new fence and borehole installation and upgrades at Nembudziya District Hospital, including the construction of a new mortuary and a state-of-the-art nursing school.
This also includes the rehabilitation of key roads leading to Nembudziya from Kadoma and Gokwe town to facilitate smooth traffic flow
In previous years, Harare has hosted the national festivities, but under the Second Republic, President Mnangagwa directed that the commemorations be rotated so that all provinces play host to the national event.
This arrangement ensures that all provinces enjoy the legacy projects that come with staging the main celebrations.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube confirmed that preparations are in full swing, with venues and access roads revamped, over 200 beasts will be slaughtered for the celebrations, and transport logistics have been finalised to accommodate the expected record crowd.
“Midlands Province is set to host the national celebrations in Gokwe North, Nembudziya, with preparations already in full swing. Transport arrangements are in place to accommodate about 100 000 people,” he said during a preparatory meeting at the Government Complex in Gweru.
Zanu-PF Midlands Provincial Chairperson Cde Edson Chiherenge applauded Government for selecting Gokwe North to host this year’s main celebrations saying the legacy projects will benefit both Gokwe North and South.
“The Independence Day celebrations have brought with them massive development in Gokwe North and South districts. As of today, most of the projects are 70 percent complete as we move towards April 18 celebrations,” he said.
Cde Chiherenge added that the Government is also setting up village business units near the newly drilled boreholes, ensuring that locals benefit from economic empowerment initiatives.
He said rotating Independence Day main celebrations across provinces, aligns with President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.
