The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
MANICALAND has warmed up to this year’s 21st Movement celebrations to be hosted by Matabeleland South, with stakeholders donating generously towards the successful hosting of the event.
The fundraising crusade which is being championed by the provincial youth league has seen various stakeholders donating in cash and kind towards the celebrations, dubbed the mother of all celebrations and expected to be full of surprises.
Manicaland is expected to raise $25 000 for the celebrations and the youth leadership has vowed to surpass the target.
The provincial youth executive has since announced that it targeting to send 10 000 youths from Manicaland to Matopos.
In an interview on Wednesday afternoon, provincial youth secretary for administration, Cde Victor Saunyama, said everything was on course to surpass the $25 000 fundraising target.
“We have managed to hold meetings with all stakeholders in our fundraising endeavour and the response we are getting is very positive and encouraging. Our members have been to the province’s eight Zanu-PF districts and it seems everyone is now aware of the importance of celebrating our iconic President Mugabe’s birthday. We are getting a warm reception everywhere we are going and we want to thank all those who are donating in cash and kind towards the successful hosting of this year’s celebrations.
“From what we are getting from our national executive, this year’s celebrations will be full of surprises and as the provincial leadership we are duty bound to ensure that all deserving youths in Manicaland will have a chance to travel to Matopos and celebrate their hero’s 93rd birthday in style,” he said.
Cde Saunyama said the provincial fundraising committee had lined a number of activities as part of their fundraising efforts.
“Our teams will be revisiting Mutare and Makoni districts because there are some stakeholders who failed to attend last week’s meetings who invited the teams back. All districts were given targets depending on their sizes and we are happy with the progress made so far.
“Some of the districts have already secured transport. These include Chipinge and Nyanga, but our doors are still open to other well-wishers who think they can also chip in with transport to come on board. We also urge other districts to make sure that enough resources are mobilised to cater for the transport and welfare needs of all those who will be travelling to Matabeleland South,” he said.
Cde Saunyama added that they were still waiting for the announcement of the day of the actual celebrations for them to come up with a date for the traditional provincial 21st Movement dinner dance.
“We are proud to be associated with President Mugabe who is not only our local hero, but is respected worldwide as a fearless leader. We will ensure that our President is accorded the respect that he deserves through massive celebrations. President Mugabe is a blessing to Zimbabwe and Africa at large. Very few leaders the world-over have the same leadership qualities like our iconic President and our hero.
“Like what I said before, to us youths of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe is our second Messiah. He was sent by God to lead us Zimbabweans to the Promised Land and anyone who stands up against him will dismally fail. President Mugabe will be turning 93 on February 21, but if you look at his energy and zeal to work for the betterment of Zimbabweans, then you will realise that he was anointed to lead this country,” said Cde Saunyama. Meanwhile, suspended provincial youth secretary for education, Cde Kudzai Madhara has bounced back into the executive following the lifting of his suspension.
Cde Madhara was suspended last year after he appeared in court facing fraud charges. He was later acquitted of the charges and was reinstated in the executive committee as the first committee member.
Cde Saunyama said Cde Madhara was remorseful and showed that he learnt from him mistakes.
“When he was serving his suspension, he remained loyal to the party and we saw it fit to reinstate him into the executive committee.
‘‘As a party, we always give people a second chance and that is what happened to Cde Madhara,” said Cde Saunyama.
