Online ReporterPatrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE Midlands Province has thanked President Mnangagwa for his forward-thinking decision to decentralise Independence Day celebrations, enabling provinces to host the main event. This initiative reflects the Second Republic’s Devolution and Decentralisation Policy, designed to boost local development and growth.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, after touring WhaWha Medium Prison in Gweru yesterday. He said that by hosting national events, provinces like Midlands can tap into opportunities for infrastructure development, such as road rehabilitation and construction, as well as enterprise development in key sectors like transport, retail, tourism, and hospitality. This, in turn, can drive provincial gross domestic product (GDP) growth and stimulate local economies.
The decision to host the 2025 Independence Day celebrations in Nembudziya, Midlands Province, is evidence of this vision, as the event is expected to bring substantial infrastructural development to the region, promoting inclusive development and growth. WhaWha Prison is one of the heritage sites in the Midlands Province targeted for rehabilitation in preparation for the National Independence Day celebrations to be held in Gokwe North at Nembudziya.
“The Midlands Province appreciates President Mnangagwa’s profound and bold decision to decentralise Independence Day celebrations to provinces in line with the Second Republic’s Devolution and Decentralisation Policy. Hosting national events avails opportunities for infrastructure development, as well as enterprise development in the areas of transport, retail, tourism, and hospitality industry, among other GDP growth anchors in our province,” said Minister Ncube.
He said the visit to the indelible historical site, which provides insight into the brutality of colonialists and the painful fight for freedom and independence, follows his similar tour of Mtapa Hall and Connemara Open Prison to assess and monitor progress on the implementation of the planned scope of works spearheaded by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and Public Works, with support from other Government departments and the private sector.
“During the liberation struggle, WhaWha Prison was a major detention centre for political activists, nationalists, and all people suspected by the white minority regime of supporting the liberation struggle,” he said.
Other equally brutal detention centres established by the colonial regime, Minister Ncube said, include Gonakudzingwa in Gonarezhou National Park in Chiredzi and Sikombela in Gokwe South, here in the Midlands Province, where prisoners were tortured and treated in a dehumanising manner.
The minister noted that WhaWha was the largest and most infamous detention camp, which saw many nationalists being detained, incarcerated, and brutally tortured at the hands of the white racist minority regime.
Minister Ncube said the province has a huge task of gathering over 100 000 people.
“As you may be aware, the colossal celebrations will be graced by President Mnangagwa, whose mandate to guide the nation towards the attainment of our National Vision 2030 was overwhelmingly endorsed by all 10 provinces in Bulawayo last year through Resolution Number 1, which recognises the tangible and impactful development programmes and projects rolled out across all sectors under the stewardship of our iconic, visionary, and transformational leader,” he said.
Minister Ncube commended President Mnangagwa’s impactful legacy during his tenure as Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Notably, he said, President Mnangagwa shifted the focus from punitive incarceration to rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. Furthermore, President Mnangagwa advocated for the abolition of capital punishment, which has been successfully implemented through the Death Penalty Abolishment Act, recently signed into law.
“President Mnangagwa left far-reaching footprints, which include migration from punitive incarceration to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship, now guided by the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model, which emphasises the production of goods and services that address community needs and challenges, and advocating for the abolition of capital punishment, which has since come to pass under the Death Penalty Abolishment Act, which he recently signed into law,” he said.
