Story by Tafara Chikumira
SOME senior government and council officials have described the conferment of the Freedom of the City of Gweru Status on President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a prestigious honour befitting of a man who has dedicated his life towards the development of the country.
The status was granted to President Emmerson Mnangagwa late last year after a full council resolution.
The Freedom of the City Status is a high civic honour given to prominent people for their contribution towards the development of an area.
Speaker of National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda gave a brief history of the accolade and its significance.
He said, ‘‘This is an honour that is given to luminaries in any city. This honour dates back to the Roman empire. It’s an honour of value through one’s deeds. It’s the second since you were given the same in Victoria Falls.’’
The President’s sacrifice for the independence and development of the country is unquestionable, hence the befitting honour.
The Gweru community has also welcomed the move imploring the local authority to step up to the challenge in terms of service delivery and in line with the objectives of the National Development Strategy One.
President Mnangagwa becomes the second citizen to be accorded such status after it was granted to the country’s founding father, Cde Robert Mugabe in 1992.
It also comes after Victoria Falls honoured President Mnangagwa in the same manner back in 2020.
The honour, which is enshrined in the country’s constitution, allows the recipient of such an honour to enjoy certain liberties and might be exempted from the city’s by laws.
