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PRESIDENT Mugabe will on Thursday light the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games torch at the State House in Harare as the countdown towards the regional sporting showcase gains momentum.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Games mascot launch in Bulawayo yesterday, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa confirmed that President Mugabe will light the torch that will be taken around all the country’s provinces before settling at its last destination, Bulawayo, the hosts of the regional sporting showcase. The Games would run between 5 and 14 December.
“His Excellency, President Mugabe will light the Games torch on 18 September at the State House and this will set the tone for various events around the country that are meant to conscientise Zimbabweans about the Games. President Mugabe chose Bulawayo to host the Games and he is behind the city in its efforts to ensure the Games are successfully hosted,” said Langa. He said the torch will then be taken around all the country’s provinces, where awareness campaigns will be held before it finally settles in Bulawayo.
Langa said he will announce the route of the torch on Thursday at State House.
“It is a significant event because the torch will be given its spark which means bringing light to the Games,” he said.
Other countries expected to take part in the Games besides the host, Zimbabwe are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland and Zambia.
derick.khumalo