Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
THE country’s 44th Independence celebrations held in Buhera this Thursday have been hailed for cementing the Second Republic’s devolution agenda.
Zimbabwe turned 44 years this Thursday on the back of huge milestones in infrastructure development, social services and on the economic front.
Vice President General Retired Dr Constantino Chiwenga says the decentralisation of independence celebrations is a huge score for Zimbabwe.
“This is one of the best celebrations through the devolution that the President introduced when he decentralised all activities of government. This also included the hosting of such major events like independence. It reminds people that we are together as a nation, we are a unitary state from all the four corners of the country and it reminds us how the independence of this country came through after a bitter and bloody armed struggle. There is no part of the country where the war was not fought. Manicaland played a major role, first it produced our founding father, It played a major role in the liberation of this country. This is the first of the liberated zones in Buhera and that time I was the political commissar before I became army political commissar,” he said.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi was also impressed by the well organised event saying it is the best so far.
“This is one of the best independence celebrations we have had outside Harare, we went to Bulawayo, we went to Mt Darwin, this one is better organised than the rest. We are improving every year and we hope the next one in Midlands province would have improved on a lot of things. We also have some legacy projects we undertook, we renovated school blocks, we built schools and this stadium,” he noted.
Defence Minister, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri also appreciated the choice of Buhera as the host district for the national event.
“We are very pleased that this year’s independence anniversary is taking place here in Buhera district and was a very strategic during the liberation struggle because of its terrain. Most of the people in Buhera participated and would say most of the families lost relatives during the war of liberation. People here really appreciate and this is an opportunity for them to recollect what transpired during the liberation struggle. This is very important for our children,” she said.
First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa who was also part of the independence celebrations stressed the importance of respecting the country’s history and its liberators.
“We are very happy specifically myself and other women around the country that at least today we had another independence with a difference. The fact that we came to Manicaland, as was enunciated by the President that we rotate independence celebrations. Manicaland has welcomed us all and became one family to us women it’s very important to cherish and respect our war veterans. Remember we had also children who went to war without any form of training some of them didn’t go to school. They liberated this country where we find ourselves doing whatever we want. The freedom that we have today and we say we are happy and that we don’t forget what they fought for. They fought for us to work for our country to raise our children in a peaceful country. We are saying to the women of Zimbabwe let’s respect our war veterans, fallen heroes and those living. As mothers we should lead by example, the way we uplift our families, I think it’s important for every woman,” said the First Lady.
Being at the core of the liberation struggle, hosting this year’s independence celebrations in Buhera District, Manicaland Province cements government’s thrust of leaving no one and no place behind.
