adminSukulwenkosi Dube and Walter Mswazie Chronicle Correspondents
RURAL communities in Matabeleland South Province have been hailed for their contributions towards Independence Day celebrations which will be held on Monday in various districts.
Provincial Administrator Midard Khumalo said preparations for the provincial celebrations which are going to be held at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda were at an advanced stage.
He said celebrations would also be held in selected places at district level.
“Preparations for Independence Day celebrations are going on well both at provincial level and throughout the six districts. The province is facing financial challenges because we recently hosted the Paralympic Games which saw us fork out $300,000 but despite these challenges we’ve managed to gather a lot of resources and everything is on track,’’ said Khumalo.
He said the province was targeting to raise $6,000 for the provincial celebrations.
He said some of the money had been collected while the bulk of foodstuffs for the celebrations had been secured.
Khumalo said the province was however unsure on hosting the Independence Charity Ball this year because of financial constraints.
He appealed to the local leadership from Gwanda to encourage people to attend the provincial celebrations.
Independence commemorations in Mangwe District are set to be held in Hobodo while Bulilima District celebrations will be held in Figtree.
Chief Hobodo from Mangwe District said villagers from his area had contributed meat, grain as well as various foodstuffs for the celebrations which were going to be held in his area.
He said it had become a tradition for villagers to contribute resources to ensure the successful celebrations.
In Masvingo preparations for this year’s Independence Day celebrations are an advanced stage with the organising committee having raised 60 percent of the required resources.
Provincial Administrator Felix Chikovo said everything was going according to plan for the occasion to be held at Mucheke Stadium on Monday.
He said apart from the provincial celebrations, all districts will hold their own commemorations and mobilisation of resources is also on course.
“Earlier this week the committee had realised at least 60 percent of the targeted $10,000,” said Chikovo.
He said a number of companies have pledged to donate both in cash and kind towards the event.
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