The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
AS preparations for this year’s national Independence Day celebrations set for Buhera near completion, Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Abiot Maronge said the ongoing transformation of the district is symptomatic of the Second Republic’s inclusive development drive to attain Vision 2030.
Murambinda B High School will host the Uhuru commemorations in which at least 70 000 people, among them delegates, are expected to be in attendance.
Rapid progress has been made in preparing for the momentous event, with the rolled out projects resulting in substantial improvements on existing infrastructure, while other new developments are being implemented.
Major roads in Buhera have been refurbished, while access roads to the venue have been constructed.
A modern pitch with changing rooms has been constructed at Murambinda B High School.
Some schools are getting a facelift.
In addition, solar-powered boreholes are being sunk throughout the district to operationalise nutrition gardens that were established to enhance food and nutrition security as well as improve community livelihoods.
Mr Maronge said the preparations are ahead of schedule.
“A lot of progress has been made in several areas that cover economic, social, demographic, environmental and physical components. Refurbishment of the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road is almost done, same as the pitch at the venue whose turf has been laid and is already being maintained. We are expecting these two particular projects to be complete by the end of this week as they are 90 percent through.
“Pothole patching of the Nyazura-Chivhu Road is also going on smoothly, while most of the access roads to the venue are now trafficable. New classroom blocks and abolition facilities are also being constructed at the hosting schools. We are almost there in meeting the set targets within agreed timelines. All the major works must be completed a week before the event,” he said.
Mr Maronge described the developments in Buhera as an enduring legacy characterising President Mnangagwa’s administration, and a symbol of the cherished gains of independence.
“All these programmes being rolled out have created expansion, growth and positive change in infrastructural improvements and overall development.
“They are a series of legacy projects by the Second Republic’s drive towards Vision 2030. We are leaving no one and no place behind, and well on course to achieve an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income economy by 2030. These are the gains of our hard won independence that we deeply cherish and celebrate every year,” he said.
In a separate interview, National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) Eastern Region’s acting director, Mr Lloyd Makonya said the province is bracing up to receive the Independence Flame in the build-up to the celebrations.
“As part of the rites of the national Independence Day commemorations, the Independence Flame will be on roadshow in all the seven districts of Manicaland en-route to the venue of the main event.
“After being set up in Harare on April 11, the Independence Flame will be received by the provincial leadership at Magamba (Butcher Site) in Rusape the following day before it goes to Nyanga and Mutasa (Matumba Six) districts on April 13.
“It will be in Mutare and Chimanimani (Machongwe) districts on April 14 before Chipinge receives it the following day. On April 16, the Independence Flame will leave Birchenough Bridge for Murambinda. On the eve of the celebrations, it will be received at Dzapasi and will finally be at the venue’s main arena on April 18,” said Mr Makonya.
He added that some work involving the building of proper graves and slabbing is being carried out at Dzapasi before the whole area is fenced as a historical monument.
This year’s national Independence Day celebrations will run under the theme: “Zim@44: Unity, Peace and Development Towards Vision 2030.”
