adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
ZANU-PF Manicaland youths have stepped up their preparations for the 21st Movement Celebrations set for the resort town of Victoria Falls in Matabeleland North on February 28.This year’s celebrations will be held under the theme: “Celebrating the birth of Gushungo, an icon of Zimbabwe’s revolution and champion of youth empowerment.”
The celebrations will be held at the Elephant Hills Hotel and a musical gala has been slated for Chinotimba Stadium.
The Manicaland youth leadership has come up with various committees aimed at fundraising and publishing the annual event which will be celebrating the life of the country’s iconic President.
The fundraising committee will be chaired by the provincial youth secretary for finance, Cde Getrude Mutandi. She will be assisted by Cdes Washington Zihwihwi (organising committee); Victor Saunyama (entertainment, marketing and publicity), Kudzai Madhara (security and protocol as well as Cdes Dakarai Mapuranga and Batsirai Rutsito.
The committee was put together after the province was given a target to raise money by the national executive, with proceeds expected to be channelled to the successful hosting of the February 28 event.
Speaking at the Zanu-PF provincial co-ordination committee meeting at Mutare Polytechnic last week, national secretary for youth affairs, Cde Pupurayi Togarepi, said all fundraising activities should be done in consultation with the national executive.
“We are hearing that some people are already going around soliciting and collecting donations for the 21st Movement Celebrations outside the mandate of the national executive and this should be stopped. All fundraising programmes should be sanctioned by the national executive because we do not want to hear stories of people looting resources using President Mugabe’s name. By doing so you will be tarnishing the good name of our iconic President,” said Cde Togarepi.
In an interview after the meeting Cde Togarepi’s deputy, Cde Kudzi Chipanga, urged the corporate world to support the 21st Movement fundraising crusade, saying they should stand up and be counted as the beneficiary of President Mugabe’s visionary leadership. “The 21st Movement Celebrations are a national event and we expect the corporate world especially those who benefitted from the economic empowerment programmes to support the fundraising initiatives. We want to give our President a befitting birthday. He is our God-given leader and we should all be proud to be associated with such a giant.
“This year’s 21st Movement Celebrations are very important to all patriotic Zimbabweans as they come barely two months after President Mugabe was resoundingly given another five-year mandate to be at the helm of Zanu-PF at the historic December 6th National People’s Congress held in Harare. The congress was a historic event and the atmosphere which prevailed during the congress should cascade down to this year’s celebrations which should be the mother of all celebrations. We are expecting thousands of people to throng Victoria Falls for the celebrations and we want everyone to live Matabeleland North with beaming smiles, hence our call to the corporate world to donate in cash and kind towards this event,” he said.
Cde Chipanga also extended his appeal for donations to churches, indigenous businesspeople and beneficiaries of the land reform programme. “As for churches, we are saying inasmuch as they support us spiritually, they should also flex their financial muscles and support this noble cause,” he said.
Cde Mutandi said they would be holding a fundraising dinner dance at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Mutare.
Online Reporter