adminKamangeni Phiri Midlands Bureau
Gweru is this month celebrating 100 years of existence as a municipality and preparations to mark the milestone are at an advanced stage.
The centenary celebrations are expected to be held from 17 July, running up to December.Chairperson of the centenary celebrations steering committee, Ward 4 Councillor Kenneth Sithole said a team from Gweru will travel to Bulawayo this morning on a learning visit.
He said: “We have cluster groups that are coordinating specific activities for the celebrations. We have church, music, sport, art, media and publicity and business clusters among others to help make the celebrations a success. Our trip to Bulawayo will enable us to learn and exchange ideas with our counterparts. Bulawayo recently successfully held their 120 years commemorations as a city”.
Gweru attained municipal status in 1914.
Clr Sithole said the city council was inviting partners from the corporate world and citizens with the capacity of hosting specific events for the commemorations.
He said citizens with the capacity to bring big name artistes like Alick Macheso and Jah Prayzah can engage the steering committee members for bookings and confirmations.
“People who can provide services like catering, interior decor and promote music, among others are welcome. This is a people’s event and we want our citizens to be part of the celebrations. We are also appealing to the corporate world to help us fund-raise for the event. This is a programme that is likely to run from this month up to December. We need funds. The economy is in a bad shape but we cannot afford to ignore celebrating this milestone event,” said Clr Sithole.
He said a number of fund-raising activities have been lined up by the fund-raising team.
Clr Sithole said: “A raffle will be conducted where luck winners will win a car and some residential stands. We will also have a family day where parents will bring children to Mkoba stadium and have braai and enjoy games. There will be jumping castles for children while adults will be entertained by various groups. There will be churches that will be doing their business under the banner of Gweru for Jesus. We have arranged a soccer legends match as well as a big match featuring Premier League sides Chapungu FC and either Shabanie Mine FC or FC Platinum. We still have to engage the Premier Soccer League on that”.
Women soccer games are also part of the entertainment menu, Clr Sithole added.
Clr Sithole said the star attraction of the programme could be a musical gala that will be staged at a date to be announced. “We are confident of raising more than enough funds to host the commemorations. There are plans that surplus cash will be forwarded to various charity homes dotted around the city. We tasked the business cluster to market the centenary celebrations at the Midlands Show scheduled to kick off this month-end,” he said.
The city’s assistant Town Clerk, Tapiwa Marerwa, said the cluster groups were working on engaging every organisation and various forms of art to mark the celebrations.
He said: “We also have photo exhibitions capturing the development and history of the city in pictures. All activities will be documented through records and videos. We are going to produce a centenary magazine as well”.
Online Reporter