Salisbury prepares for Machel visit

The Herald August 1, 1980

DECORATIONS in the colours of the national flag began appearing yesterday on Government buildings in Salisbury as the capital prepared its welcome for President Machel of Mozambique.

Portraits of the Mozambican leader, who starts a State visit on Monday, were wrapped round lamp posts along several streets.

They bear the words “Welcome Comrade Machel! Viva Mozambique-Zimbabwe”.

Samora Machel Avenue street signs were put along the former Jameson Avenue, renamed this week in honour of President Machel.

The platform on which the statue of Rhodes stood was blocked from view by sacking. It was not clear whether the stand was being moved or preparations were being made for another statue to be put up.

“There will be a dress rehearsal for President Machel’s welcoming party at Zimbabwe Grounds, Highfield at 9am today,” a Zanu PF official said.

The spokesman appealed to all Salisbury residents to attend.

The spokesman appealed to all Salisbury residents to attend. Because of the dress rehearsal the football match between Dynamos and City of Lusaka at Rufaro Stadium has been cancelled. 

LESSONS FOR TODAY

 The renaming of streets started in the early days of the United States. At that time the most prominent settlers decided on the street names, often using their own last names for simplicity or out of pride. Later, developers primarily took over this role, often strategically picking names that would create a positive association with the new neighbourhood.

Today street names are derived through a number of ways. In Zimbabwe, the Government replaced former colonial names with those of liberation war stalwarts and national heroes of the First and Second Chimurenga.

The Government also named some of the streets after foreign Presidents, especially those who played a major role in supporting the cause for independence such as the late Samora Machel of Mozambique, who had a street named after him during his first official State visit to independent Zimbabwe in 1980. Others are Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Nyerere, Nkwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela.

The naming of streets after these great sons of Africa is an indication of the deep-rooted relations that Zimbabwe shared with them and their countries and a permanent tribute to their enduring legacies.