Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena in Mapisa
Thousands of Zimbabweans from all ten provinces flooded Minda High School grounds in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, as the country’s 46th Independence celebrations ended in a thunderous musical gala that lit up the night sky.
The explosive show came after the main Independence Day celebrations earlier on April 18, presided over by Emmerson Mnangagwa, which drew huge crowds and top Government officials, setting a patriotic tone for the day.
But it was in the evening where the real fire was ignited. The Maphisa gala turned into a full-blown celebration of music, culture and unity, as revellers were treated to a marathon of performances that ran into the early morning hours.
The high-profile event was attended by Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Zhemu Soda, his deputy Dr Omphile Marupi, Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana, and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe.
From the word go, the stage belonged to Zimbabwe’s finest. Big names such as Jeys Marabini, Clement Magwaza, Dereck Mpofu, Andy Muridzo, Suluman Chimbetu and Jah Master delivered back-to-back performances that had the crowd on its feet.
The line-up also featured Black Umfolosi, Iyasa, Indosakusa: The Morning Star, Ndolwane Super Sounds, Zinjaziyamluma, Sasha, Chase Skuza, Bolamba Culture Birds and Ufasimba Home of Arts, giving fans a rich mix of traditional, contemporary and urban sounds. Local pride was not left behind, with Maphisa-based outfits Thokozani Super Sounds and Zonda Mthakathi stealing hearts with energetic home-ground performances that had revellers cheering nonstop.
The early hours of the night belonged to smooth imbube harmonies, with Black Umfolosi, Ufasimba and Indosakusa serenading the crowd. Indosakusa stood out as they delivered songs from their latest album Unembeza, earning loud applause from fans.
But just when the crowd thought it was over, the tempo changed. Around 11pm, Maskandi took over the night as Zinjaziyamluma stormed the stage with a high-energy act that shook the grounds. His performance was so infectious that Minister Nguluvhe and Nick Mangwana were pulled onto the stage, where they danced alongside him to wild cheers from the crowd.
“It is a great privilege for me to have been invited to be part of this gala,” said Zinjaziyamluma. “I promised my fans a top-notch performance, and I delivered. Seeing the Ministers join me on stage was humbling. I am happy I represented the genre well.”
From midnight, Tshibilika music took control, with legends Martin and Ndolwane Super Sounds, Mxolisi “Mr Bones” Ndlovu and Clement Magwaza bringing raw energy that kept the crowd awake into the early hours.
The gala ran until 7am, turning Maphisa into a non-stop festival of music, dance and national pride, with revellers praising the peaceful atmosphere and organisation of the event.
“This is my first time attending such a massive show, and it’s a blessing that it came to Maphisa,” said Siphamandla Sibanda. I applaud the Second Republic for bringing Independence celebrations to our region. It has uplifted our community in many ways, including infrastructure development. Local businesses also benefited as visitors supported us through accommodation and food purchases. We are grateful to President Mnangagwa for this opportunity.”
As dawn broke over Maphisa, one thing was clear — Independence Day had ended not with silence, but with song, dance and a powerful sense of unity.
Mathew Masinge