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Herald Reporters
ALL is set for today’s anti-sanctions march, with Government providing 265 buses to ferry people from the country’s 10 provinces for the main event to be held at the National Sports Stadium. Various provinces yesterday indicated that they were also ready for their own events in respective districts.

Speaking at a Press briefing in Harare on preparations for the main event, Harare Metropolitan Province Minister Oliver Chidawu said buses will be available at usual pick up points from 6am.

“We have allocated 100 buses for Harare, Bulawayo 50, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Midlands will each get 20 buses respectively, while Mashonaland Central will get 15 buses, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South will each get 10 buses respectively,” said Minister Chidau.

He urged patriotic Zimbabweans to come in their numbers in support for the lifting of sanctions.

“We thus call upon all patriotic Zimbabweans to come out in their numbers in support of the call for the lifting of these unjustified economic sanctions. As we express our commonly felt desire for the removal of these sanctions against our country, I urge you all to be a mindful of maintaining peace, law and order.

“Buses will be available at usual pick up points from 6am. The march will commence at the Robert Mugabe Square to the National Sports Stadium where solidarity messages will be delivered.

“Let us come out in large numbers to show the world that Zimbabwe is a free, democratic and peace loving nation which needs everyone’s support as we strive for our economic emancipation,” he added.

Sanctions, he said, have also prevented the creation of mutually beneficial investment relations with countries that have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

In Matabeleland South, the anti-sanctions march in Beitbridge will be led by Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu and ANC secretary-general Cde Ace Magashule of South Africa).

Proceeding are expected to start at 7am at the District Development Coordinator’s (formerly District Administrator) offices and the procession will go through the Beitbridge Border Post, along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway and end at Dulivhadzimu Stadium.

Organisers of the event said yesterday that they had covered a lot of ground in terms of logistics.

Beitbridge District Development Coordinator (DDC) Ms Skhangazile Mafu said people were encouraged to attend the anti-sanctions march in their numbers.

“This is a pure Government programme and we discourage people from wearing political regalia. Our teams are busy mobilising people from the nearby villages including Dumba, Mawale, Makakavhule, Mtetengwe, Chamnanga, Lutumba, Nuli and Tshapfuche among others to take part in the event.

“We expect the march to be a very big success”.

In Manicaland, Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Mike Madiro said they had mobilised thousands to converge at Sakubva Stadium.

“We are more than ready for the anti-sanctions march. All the seven administrative district centres are also more than ready and are very enthusiastic. They want to show their displeasure of the continuation of the illegal sanctions. The event will be overwhelmingly subscribed,” said Cde Madiro.

In the Midlands, Minister of State Larry Mavima said more than 20 000 people are expected to converge in Gweru for the anti-sanctions march.

The procession will start at the traffic circle along Bulawayo Road and people will march up to the Boogie Tour along Main Street where solidarity speeches will be delivered by captains of industry, civil society organisations, students, small to medium enterprises, freedom fighters among others.

“We are happy that the preparations for the anti-sanctions march were successful and we are ready. We are marching from the traffic circle along Bulawayo road to an area near Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus,” he said.

In Mashonaland West province all the seven districts were yesterday busy mobilising people to participate in the anti-sanctions march in Harare. By yesterday afternoon, final logistics including distribution of fuel to allow people to go to Harare were being finalised.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said it was all systems go as more than 30 buses will ferry people to Harare for the march.

“Our people have been burdened by sanctions for about 20 years meaning that some were born and have not enjoyed a stable economy because of the sanctions. We need a break and a chance as Zimbabwe to build our economy,” she said.

Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Minister Monica Mavhunga said it was all systems go for today’s anti-sanctions march in the province.

Addressing the media at her offices in Bindura yesterday afternoon, she said they had mobilised enough transport for the 33 pick-up points in Bindura and Shamva where people will be picked up for the provincial programme to be held at Chipadze Stadium.

“We expect a bumper crowd to converge for the provincial march. Mazowe District will represent the province at the national event in Harare. There are also several district centres where the marches will be held.

“We appreciate the support we received from the corporate world to beef up what Government has availed.”

She said the programme starts at 8am with people marching from Shamva-Chipadze Turn-off, Bindura Showgrounds and Bindura Country Club respectively and converge at NSSA Complex before proceeding to Chipadze Stadium for the provincial event.