Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve , [email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi says the Government’s decision to rotate Independence Day celebrations across Zimbabwe has transformed the national holiday into a catalyst for tourism growth, infrastructure development and national unity, delivering lasting economic and social benefits to host districts.
Speaking in an interview with Zimpapers on the sidelines of the recently concluded Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), VP Mohadi said the decentralisation of Independence commemorations was already yielding tangible results across all 10 provinces.
“In decentralising Independence Day, the celebrations have been transformed from a single-location event into a nationwide development and unity-building programme that leaves lasting benefits in every host district,” he said.
VP Mohadi, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions and National Monuments, said the new approach has stimulated infrastructure development as host areas prepare to receive national events and visitors.
He noted that roads, water supplies, accommodation facilities and telecommunications networks are upgraded ahead of the annual celebrations, improving accessibility and enhancing the tourism appeal of previously marginalised districts.
The Vice President said Independence celebrations now act as a major economic stimulus for local economies, with transport operators, accommodation providers, food vendors and informal traders experiencing increased demand during the festivities.
This surge in activity, he said, injects income into local communities, supports livelihoods and encourages further private sector investment, positioning the celebrations as an important tool for domestic tourism development.
VP Mohadi added that the decentralisation policy has also raised the profile of historically significant areas closely linked to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, strengthening heritage-based tourism while supporting balanced national development in line with the Government’s policy of leaving no region behind.
Beyond tourism and infrastructure, VP Mohadi also highlighted the cultural and historical significance of the recent repatriation of the Zimbabwe Bird and ancestral human remains from South Africa.
“The repatriation of the Zimbabwe Bird and ancestral human remains from South Africa carries deep national, cultural, and historical significance for the people of Zimbabwe. First, the return of the Zimbabwe Bird – an enduring national symbol associated with Great Zimbabwe reaffirms our heritage and identity.
“These soapstone bird sculptures represent the ingenuity, spirituality, and statehood of early Zimbabwean civilisation. Their return restores an important piece of our history that had been separated from its cultural context, strengthening national pride and continuity.”
VP Mohadi said the repatriation of ancestral human remains was equally important from a moral and spiritual perspective, stressing that many Zimbabwean traditions require proper burial rites to ensure harmony between the living and their ancestors.
“Bringing these remains back home allows for dignified reburial in accordance with cultural customs, helping to heal historical wounds caused by colonial-era removals,” he said.
He said the process forms part of broader efforts to address historical injustices committed during the colonial period, when artefacts and human remains were often removed without consent and stored in foreign institutions.
Their return, VP Mohadi said, represents acknowledgment of those injustices and contributes to restoring dignity to affected communities.
The Vice-President said the repatriation programme also strengthens national unity and education by offering Zimbabweans, particularly younger generations, an opportunity to reconnect with their history and understand the resilience of their ancestors.
VP Mohadi further explained the symbolism behind igniting the Independence Flame at historically significant sites such as Juliet Assembly Point and Ratanyana Memorial Site.
“Juliet Assembly Point is one of the locations where liberation fighters gathered during the ceasefire period following the Lancaster House Agreement. Assembly points like Juliet represent the transition from armed struggle to peace and nation-building. The Independence Flame passing through such a site honours that moment of transformation – from war to sovereignty.”
He said Ratanyana Memorial Site carries a different but equally powerful meaning.
“Ratanyana Memorial Site, on the other hand, stands as a place of remembrance. It commemorates fallen heroes and the sacrifices made by communities that directly bore the brunt of the liberation struggle. The Flame’s presence there symbolises respect, remembrance, and the enduring spirit of those who gave everything for independence.”
VP Mohadi said Government measures to preserve and promote these sites include official designation and protection through the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, ongoing restoration and maintenance of memorial shrines, and education programmes encouraging schools and youth to visit liberation heritage sites.
“In essence, these returns are not just about objects or remains, they are about reclaiming identity, honouring ancestors, and strengthening the nation’s cultural foundation,” he said.
