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However, the MDC formations were conspicuous by their absence at the colourful celebrations.
This, nevertheless, did not prevent the huge crowd from enjoying the event.
A display of uncanny canine intelligence by police dogs stole the show in a day that had an impressive array of entertainment.
The event kicked off in the morning with drum majorettes marching around the suburbs surrounding the venue.
A big crowd followed the school children up to the stadium where they were treated to a magnificent display of parades and marches by the country’s uniformed forces.
Governor and Resident Minister for Bulawayo, Ambassador Cain Mathema, read President Mugabe’s Independence Day Speech, before a Khami prisoners group took to the stage.
They performed traditional dances to applause from the crowd.
Then, the Bulawayo police canine section moved in. The intelligent dogs got a standing ovation when they hoisted the country’s flag and two others, up their masts.
The dogs held the crowd spellbound when a group of them came together and began “singing”.
They used a series of barks to create a melody that followed the directions of one of their trainers who was the choirmaster.
Acrobatic displays by the cycle units and races between horses, motor cycles and the all terrain arctic cats enthralled the crowd as police took the opportunity to invite youths to join the force.
After the event a number of youths explained what Independence Day meant to them.
“It is a day when I reflect what freedom is. I was not yet born at the time but I read in history books and my father often tells me what life was like under colonial rule. I know that Africans were not allowed to move in certain parts of town and no matter how educated they were, they could not hold key posts in any organisation. This day, to me, marks the time when all these unfair practices came to an end,” said Miss Takunda Mberi (19).
Another youth, Mr Albert Dube (25), said to him, independence meant that every Zimbabwean should have an equal opportunity to contribute to the country’s development.
“We are free from foreign oppressors, so we should always use this day to remind each other that we are one. Ndebeles, Shonas, Tongas, men, women and children should all be given the opportunity to have an input into the country’s developmental programmes. This special day means that we should all pull together in harmony to better our lives,” said Mr Dube.
Among the people who attended the celebrations was the Officer Commanding Police in Bulawayo, Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba, Brigadier General Thomas Moyo who is the commander of One Infantry Brigade, Zapu leader, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, Zanu-PF politburo member, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, civil servants and service chiefs.
In Matabeleland North, thousands of people thronged Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane to join the rest of the country in celebrating Independence Day.
As early as 9am, the young and old had started trickling into the stadium.
The events of the day began with a uniformed forces procession from Lupane Business Centre to the stadium.
Proceedings continued when the uniformed forces went on parade and sang the national anthem following the arrival of Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland North Province Sithokozile Mathuthu, who was the guest of honour at 11am.
Before she read the President’s speech, Governor Mathuthu started by inspecting the parade comprising four detachments from the uniformed forces in the province.
The detachments were officers from the Zimbabwe National Army 1.2 Infantry Battalion, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prison Service and Zimbabwe Women Services, which is made up of women officers from the uniformed forces.
After inspection of the parade, the uniformed forces entertained the gathering by showing off colourful displays of a march past in quick and slow march.
Revolutionary songs punctuated the displays before Governor Mathuthu read the President’s speech at midday.
All the three main political parties in the inclusive Government were represented by their members from the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic).
Cde Madeline Bhebhe represented Zanu-PF; Mr Sengezo Tshabangu represented MDC-T while Mr Maxwell Mthuzana represented MDC.
Service chiefs from Matabeleland North province, Victoria Falls Mayor Alderman Nkosilathi Jiyane, Zanu-PF House of Assembly Member for Lupane West Cde Martin Khumalo, as well as the party’s Matabeleland North Central Committee member Cde Fathi Mpofu, members of the business community and Kusile Rural District Council councillors, among others attended the celebrations.
The celebrations ended in style when the crowd was entertained by performances from the Zimbabwe’s music ambassadors Black Umfolosi, which sang its song Unity among others and displayed giant killing acts.
Not to be outdone was Chase Skuza, who also left the gathering asking for more.
Other performances were from traditional dance groups from schools in Lupane.
In Matabeleland South, hundreds of people from all walks of life thronged Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda to celebrate the country’s 32nd Independence anniversary.
Governor and Resident Minister, Angeline Masuku arrived at the venue at about 11am accompanied by the Officer Commanding Police in Matabeleland South, Senior Assistant Commissioner Billy Mushonga and Colonel Norman Matuvhunye, the Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) School of Infantry at Mbalabala.
Governor Masuku started by inspecting a guard of honour mounted by members of the ZNA, Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) and the police before she read the President’s speech at around 11:28 am.
The event was attended by Deputy President of the Senate, Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, the Member of Parliament for Gwanda Central, Mr Patrick Dube, Officer Commanding ZPS in Matabeleland South, Chief Superintendent Social Ndanga, the Provincial Intelligence Officer, Benjamin Chinyayi, the acting Provincial Administrator, Mr Midard Khumalo, and several heads of various Government departments in the province.
Meanwhile, the Governor’s Ball was held the previous night at Gwanda District Club amid pomp and fanfare. In her speech, Governor Masuku urged Zimbabweans to unite and work together regardless of the political divide to develop the country.
She expressed concern over the poor roads in the province, saying they contributed to the increasing number of road accidents.
Governor Masuku also lauded Government for introducing the Community Share Ownership Scheme under the ongoing indigenisation programme aimed at economically empowering local people.
She urged beneficiaries to plough back to their communities by developing their areas.
President Mugabe will soon officially launch the Community Share Ownership Scheme in Matabeleland South Province.
In the Midlands, this year’s edition of the Independence Day celebrations turned out to be bigger and better organised than in previous years.
People turned out in their thousands, filling Mkoba Stadium in Gweru, the traditional venue of the event, to capacity.
The celebrations also brought together all the three parties in the Inclusive Government with all the parties, Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC represented.
To their credit, all the supporters of the three parties took heed of the call not to wear their respective parties’ regalia.
Midlands Governor, Cde Jason Machaya, service chiefs and senior Government officials attended the event.
Industry and Commerce Minister, Professor Welshman Ncube of MDC, and Minister of State Enterprise and Parastatals, Gorden Moyo, were also in attendance.
Participants and some of the guests started arriving at Mkoba Stadium as early as 7am.
The proceedings opened at 8.30 am with a procession led by the police that marched from Mkoba Police Station to the stadium.
Dignitaries started arriving at about 10 am and at 10.15am, uniformed forces performed marching drills.
Services chiefs arrived at about 10.30 am and the guest of honour, Cde Machaya, arrived at about 10.35 am.
Guests were treated to an assortment of entertainment from different groups that included Whawha Young Offenders inmates, the police bike team, mock battle drills from the national army and dog displays from the Air force of Zimbabwe’s Thornhill team, among others.
Governor Machaya expressed gratitude to the people of the Midlands for turning out in their numbers to mark the Independence Day celebrations.
At around 12 pm, Governor Machaya read President Mugabe’s Independence Day speech.
After the speech, people were treated to more entertainment from the police, the army and poets.
In interviews, Minister Ncube and Minister Moyo described the event as national and uniting.
Prof Ncube said on Independence Day, Zimbabweans celebrate their sovereignty, economic and political independence.
“It is a time when we forget political differences and today we are celebrating the milestone 32 years as Zimbabweans,” he said.
Minister Moyo urged all Zimbabweans across the political divide to embrace Independence Day.
“It is on such days that we should cherish being Zimbabweans. We should embrace this day and come together as one people to mark such an important day. We should remember our fallen heroes as Zimbabweans as we work towards mapping a way forward in shaping a new Zimbabwe,” he said.
In Masvingo, hundreds of people who included senior politicians from across all political divide thronged Mucheke Stadium to celebrate the day.
The event was presided over by Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister Cde Titus Maluleke who read President Mugabe’s speech.
In attendance were Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire, MDC-T provincial organising secretary Mr Ernest Mudavanhu, MDC-M national women chairperson Ms Hilda Sibanda, police Senior Assistant Commissioner Apollonian Mudzwerengwi Chad, 4. Infantry Battalion Commander Brigadier General Chancellor Diye, Masvingo City Mayor Alderman Femius Chakabuda, Masvingo war veterans secretary general Cde Bud Spencer Mandipaka, among other dignitaries.
Governor Maluleke inspected the independence parade composed of all the uniformed forces in the province. The parade included Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prison Services and Zimbabwe National Army.
In separate interviews political parties congratulated President Mugabe for, together with other gallant fighters, untangling the chains of bondage in 1980 through taking the country from white colonialists to its rightful owners. Representatives of political parties attributed the development that the country has experienced to independence and also supported Government efforts on indigenisation and economic empowerment initiatives Cde Mavhaire said the province benefited from a good number of developments as a result of Independence and those who liberated the country deserved recognition.
“We have many tarred roads in Masvingo province than before and the projects were made possible by the attainment of independence. Those who sacrificed their lives in the bush deserve recognition because without them we could not have gone this far as a country,” he said.
Online Reporter