adminProvincial governors yesterday said the preparations were progressing well.
Mashonaland Central Governor Martin Dinha said the province would celebrate independence in style.
“I am just coming out of a preparatory meeting and we are starting our celebrations this Saturday with the launch of the Bindura Arts Festival,” he said. “We want to get into a carnival atmosphere before the actual day and on April 16, we are launching the Zimbabwe Independence seminar series at Bindura University of Science Education.”
He said various people would make independence day-related presentations.
“We have invited Vice President Joice Mujuru and other dignitaries,” said Governor Dinha. “We want students, children and ordinary youths to relive memories of the liberation struggle, values and virtues that inspired our war veterans to participate in the struggle.
“We will interrogate the value of independence under the banner ‘Wither Zimbabwe: 33 years after independence?’’
Governor Dinha said the province would hold the Independence Ball Games on April 16.
“This will give the people an opportunity to enjoy themselves before we have rehearsals the following day,” he said. “As a mobilisation strategy, we are going to have road shows throughout Bindura because we want people to come as they take stock of where the country came from and where it is today under the wise leadership of President Mugabe.”
Mashonaland West Governor Faber Chidarikire said preparations in the province were at an advanced stage.
“We are going to have another preparatory meeting tomorrow (today) but for now things are moving according to plan at district and provincial levels,” he said. “We have received tremendous support from well wishers and we hope to have a successful day.”
In Matabeleland North, the independence celebrations would begin with an Independence Ball on April 17. Governor and Resident Minister Thokozile Mathuthu said the province set up committees that were working on the programme to ensure success ful celebrations.
“Despite limited resources, Zimbabwe still managed to empower the black majority through land reform and is currently implementing the indigenisation policy despite illegal sanctions imposed by the West,” she said. “Let us maintain peace. We have learnt to gel and work together as one nation, and surely we cannot be proud of a situation which will reduce us to warring parties once again.”
Online Reporter