adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
BULAWAYO and the two Matabeleland provinces have stepped up their fundraising activities for next month’s 21st February Movement celebrations to be held in Masvingo.
All the 10 provinces have been tasked to raise $30,000 for the annual celebrations which also double as President Robert Mugabe’s birthday commemorations.
Thousands of people are expected to throng Mucheke stadium on February 27 to celebrate President Mugabe’s life.
Matabeleland and Bulawayo provinces said preparations were on course and they were ready for this year’s celebrations.
Secretary for Information and Publicity for Bulawayo province, Cde Colleta Shoko, said they were in the process of identifying institutions to approach for donations.
“Provinces were given a $30,000 target for the national commemorations. We’re in the process of soliciting for funds. We will engage the business community before holding our fundraising dinner,” said Cde Shoko.
She said the province has already selected pupils that will attend the national commemorations.
“We’ve already identified the 10 pupils who we’re going to take with us for the national commemorations to be held in Masvingo. The 10 school children share the same birthday with our President. So we’re now in the process of teaching them a lot of things about him. They’re reciting poems among other things,” she said.
Matabeleland North provincial chairperson, Cde Richard Moyo, said preparations for the 21st February Movement commemorations were on course.
He said youths have been busy working on fundraising for the event.
Cde Moyo said they expected to receive a feedback over the weekend.
“We’re going to be having a provincial meeting on Saturday. That’s where I expect to get a briefing from the youths,” he said.
Matabeleland South chairperson, Cde Rabelani Choeni, said the 21st February Movement preparations were on the party’s agenda at a meeting held over the weekend.
He said, however, the provincial executive was not involved much in the preparations as the youth league was taking a leading role.
“We can only come in to assist the Youth League if they ask for help. But generally we’re not getting involved as the provincial leadership,” Cde Choeni said.
The 21st February Movement celebrations were conceived in 1986 and have been on the annual calendar ever since.
The event has been used to inspire many youths in the country who are encouraged to emulate President Mugabe’s life.
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