Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, [email protected]
Rutenga Growth Point in Masvingo Province will host the 47th Independence celebrations and the 2027 Children’s Party, while the Gonakudzingwa former detention camp and Jenya, a liberation war memorial site, have been considered as places of significance where the Independence Flame would be lit.
This comes as Cabinet has indicated that Masvingo Province will host next year’s 47th Independence anniversary celebrations and Children’s Party, in line with President Mnangagwa’s directive to decentralise national events.
Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet briefing in Harare, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Cabinet noted and approved the report on the proposed venue, as presented by Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi.
“Masvingo Province will host the 47th Independence anniversary celebrations and the 2027 Children’s Party in line with the Cabinet directive at its meeting of 20th May, 2025 on the Independence celebrations rotational hosting sequence,” he said.
“It should be recalled that in one of his earlier interventions, His Excellency the President stressed that remoteness and underdevelopment should be accorded importance in the selection of a hosting district.
“In that regard, Rutenga Growth Point in Mwenezi District has been approved as the venue for the 47th Independence celebrations and the 2027 Children’s Party.”
Minister Zhemu added that Gonakudzingwa, a former detention camp in Chiredzi District and Jenya, a Liberation War memorial site in Chivi District, were considered as the Places of Significance where the Independence Flame will be lit.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage will identify other areas of historical interest in the province and undertake the appropriate memorialisation programmes.
Meanwhile, Cabinet noted and approved a report on the Official Opening of the 34th Junior Parliament Session as presented by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire. The official opening will be presided over by President Mnangagwa on July 8 at the new Parliament in Mt Hampden.
The opening will run under the Day of the African Child-inspired theme, “Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa”.
“The Junior Parliament mirrors the structure of the Parliament of Zimbabwe and is designed to advocate for the promotion and protection of youth rights; to cultivate leadership, civic responsibility and democratic values among the youth; and to facilitate structured and meaningful youth participation across all sectors of national development.
“More specifically, the Junior Parliament seeks to provide children with practical civic education on the operations of the three Arms of the State.
“The Junior Parliament elections were conducted in all constituencies on 12 June 2026, and rehearsals are underway. Going forward, Government will continue to strengthen and expand the programme as a strategic national platform for youth development, empowerment and participation,” said Minister Soda.
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