Midlands raises $10k for Uhuru

Nqobile Tshili/Elizabeth Tsuro Chronicle Correspondent
BULAWAYO and the Midlands provinces are each targeting to raise $10,000 for Monday’s Independence Day celebrations.

Bulawayo’s independence fundraising committee said their monetary target had taken into consideration the economic challenges being experienced in the country.

The Provincial Administrator Khonzani Ncube said all was on course for the celebrations.

“Preparations are at an advanced stage. I was having meetings with the organising committees today. The celebrations will start on Sunday with the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Bulawayo ball which will be held at the Large City Hall,” she said.

She said the Provincial Affairs Minister’s ball is a fundraising dinner where companies and individuals come together to raise funds for the less privileged.

“Individual tickets are being sold for $20 while companies can buy a table for $200. I call on the people of Bulawayo to support this initiative whose proceeds will be distributed to the vulnerable,” she said.

Ncube said the main independence celebrations will be held on Monday at the White City Stadium and transport will be provided to the venue.

In the Midlands province, celebrations will be held at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in the Midlands, Cde Jason Machaya, said the commemorations will be held under the theme: “Zimbabwe at 36, Celebrating Peace and Sustainable Growth.”

“Celebration centres have been organised in all the districts where entertainment has been lined up for the day. The celebrations will cascade down to ward levels throughout the province. The corporate world, individuals and other well-wishers are also invited to donate to make their day a success,” he said.

Cde Machaya also urged people to come in their numbers to join the rest of the country in celebrating the special day.

He said Zimbabweans should take pride in attaining a united and sovereign State.

“This commemoration is a result of a long and protracted war of liberation that culminated in a new dawn on April 18, 1980.

“While this has been a long and winding journey characterised by all sorts of pitfalls, barriers and impediments along the way, we as a province should take pride in the fact that we’ve remained resolute in the face of our detractors who’ve always wished evil against our nation,” he said.