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Herald Reporter
Schools in Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan provinces are closing today in preparation for the Sixth Zanu-PF Annual People’s Congress and the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games .

Those not affected by the two events are closing next week on Thursday as per calendar.

The Zanu-PF congress runs from December 2-7 while the 10-day AU games begin on December 4.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango confirmed the development in an interview with The Herald yesterday.

“Schools in Harare metropolitan province will be closing tomorrow (today) because of the congress while those in Bulawayo metropolitan province will also be closing because of the African Youth Games being hosted there,” she said.

Schools in other provinces will not be affected.

“Rest of the schools will close as per calendar,” said Mrs Utete-Masango.

She said the schools were closing early to provide accommodation to delegates attending the elective Zanu-PF congress and those converging for the games.

Preparations for congress are at an advanced stage and thousands of delegates from all the 10 provinces are expected in Harare for the crucial event.

In Bulawayo, several countries are expected to take part in the youths games.

These are Angola, Botswana Lesotho, South Africa, Malawi, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and the host — Zimbabwe.

They will battle it out in sporting disciplines that include basketball, judo, football, netball, swimming, athletics, boxing and tennis.