Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE 45th Independence Gala lived up to expectations as thousands of people converged at Nembudziya High School grounds to celebrate Zimbabwe’s four and a half decades of sovereignty, with a spectacular night of music and celebration.
The star-studded lineup featured both legendary and contemporary musicians, offering a rich blend of sound that resonated across generations.
Veterans such as Jonah Moyo, Chief Hwenje, and Sandra Ndebele delivered electrifying performances that captivated the audience, while modern talents like Mzoe 7 stole the hearts of the youthful crowd.
However, it was the headline act by the Dendera King, Sulumani Chimbetu, that brought the crowd to its feet. His spirited performance affirmed that the legacy of Dendera music remains firmly in good hands, as he had revellers dancing well into the night.
Government officials hailed the gala as a celebration not only of Zimbabwe’s independence but also of the country’s commitment to inclusive development.
“Our independence gala today is being held here in Nembudziya, Gokwe as we are trying to push the issue of inclusivity. We have all seen the infrastructure development that has happened in this place and we are saying let’s keep devolving and developing. The amount of development by the Second Republic is just but phenomenal. The future is indeed bright and we need to move forward with the understanding that Zimbabwe is for us all,” the Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said.
Music revellers expressed gratitude for the event.
“We are very happy with the performance we witnessed here in Gokwe. Today we have seen some artists we usually see on TV and some radio personalities as well,” a reveller said.
“I want to confess that this is the First time I had to witness a musical gala live. We used to watch these gigs on TV but President Mnangagwa has brought it here. Wozodei,” a fan said.
The Independence Gala marked the end of independence celebrations in Gokwe Nembudziya.
This year’s independence celebrations are being held under the theme ‘Zim @45 devolve and develop together towards vision 2030’
