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President Mugabe and First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe wave to supporters at a rally

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
SEVERAL Heads of State and Government from across the world are expected to attend President Mugabe’s inauguration at the National Sports Stadium in Harare tomorrow where thousands of Zimbabweans are expected to congregate. Congratulatory messages for the Head of State and Government have been pouring in from all five continents, flying in the face of Anglo-Saxon attempts to cast aspersions on President Mugabe’s re-election.

The President romped to victory with 61,09 percent of the vote in the presidential contest, walloping MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai who managed a measly 33,94 percent with the other three presidential contestants sharing the remaining 4,97 percent. Zanu-PF clinched 160 seats out of the 210 national assembly constituencies to get a crushing 76 percent dominance of the Lower House.

After factoring in 60 women’s quota seats elected by proportional representation of six for each of the 10 provinces, the final composition of the National Assembly comes to 197 seats for Zanu-PF, 70 for mdc-t, two for mdc, and one independent, giving zanu-pf just under 73 percent of the total seats in the National Assembly, but well over the two thirds majority of 180 seats.

Zanu-PF also won 1 493 wards against a mere 442 for MDC-T in local authority elections to complete the rout.
The Constitutional Court yesterday declared President Mugabe duly elected, ruling the harmonised elections free, fair, and credible.

The court dismissed a petition by MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku found the result of the elections a true reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
Preparations for the grand event, which is reminiscent of the 1980 independence celebrations at Rufaro Stadium, are already at an advanced stage.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Ray Ndlukula told reporters at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday that they also invited former Heads of State and Government in the region to witness the occasion.

“We have invited Heads of State and Government from within the Sadc region and West Africa, East Africa and North Africa and some from outside the African continent,” he said.

“We also invited former Heads of State and Government from within Southern Africa. All in all, we are looking at about 30 Heads of State and Government, including the former Heads of State and Government.

“We expect to have a full house in the National Sports Stadium in the sense that we have not only invited people from Harare Province, but from all the provinces of Zimbabwe.

“We have laid what we believe is adequate transport to bring as many people as possible in Harare. I think at this stage we are ready for the occasion.”
Given the significance of the event to Zimbabwe, Dr Ndlukula said they invited some foreign artistes to add flavour and glamour to the occasion.

In this regard, Dr Ndlukula said they had issued a number of invitations to foreign artistes, but they were yet to get a confirmed list.
He said those invited were from countries such as Jamaica, England and others from Africa, although local musicians would form the bulk of the entertainment list.
As of yesterday, workmen were still pitching tents and putting some final touches at the venue of the celebrations.

Zanu-PF has urged its members to come in huge numbers for the big event.
The party’s secretary for information and publicity, Cde Rugare Gumbo, urged the party’s provincial chairmen to co-ordinate transport to ferry people to and from the venue of the event.

“Now that the Constitutional Court has made a determination that His Excellency President R. G Mugabe won the Presidential election in the harmonised election of July 31 2013, Zanu-PF urges all members of the Politburo, Central Committee, National Consultative Assembly, Women’s League, Youth League, all newly appointed Senators, House of Assembly Members, war veterans, war collaborators, ZIPEDRA members, business community, all members of the party and indeed all Zimbabweans to come to the inauguration ceremony of His Excellency the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe at the National Sports Stadium on Thursday 22 August 2013,” he said.

“The chairmen of the provinces are directed to coordinate transport provisions for all those who wish to attend the President’s inauguration.”
Cde Gumbo said party members should arrive early and get seated before the commencement of proceedings.