adminGabrielle Gede Manicaland Correspondent
Preparations for this year’s independence celebrations in Manicaland have been subdued as most of the attention is on providing relief to people that were affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
Zimbabwe turns 39 on April 18 this year.
Manicaland provincial administrator Mr Edgars Seenza said they were yet to sit as a committee to discuss how to celebrate the country’s independence.
“We cherish our Independence but right now we are faced with a tragedy which needs to be fixed first,” he said
“We are still running around relocating and taking care of people who were affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
“We held a meeting recently but we were unable to finalise on a strategy we can implement towards preparing for our independence event. We have plans to meet again soon to prepare for the celebrations,” he said.
On Thursday, President Mnangagwa led 18 other political leaders to Chimanimani where they visited areas affected by the cyclone.
In his address at Ngangu Township during the visit, President Mnangagwa assured the people of Chimanimani and other Cyclone Idai-affected areas that his Government will restore all the destroyed infrastructure.
The President also assured that relief aid was continuing saying no one would suffer from hunger.
He also said Government would assist people who would be relocated from their former homes.
President Mnangagwa said funds had been availed for reconstruction of gamaged infrastructure including schools.
Last year, a high-powered delegation from neighbouring Mozambique led by Manica Province Governor His Excellency Mr Alberto Ricardo Mondlane, graced the celebrations which were held in Sakubva Stadium.
Mr Mondlane was received by then Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa, who is now the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
Online Reporter