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ensure the city regains its status as the country’s industrial hub.
Addressing thousands of people who wel­comed him at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said Bulawayo had long been left to suffer economic hardships, which have led to the closure of many firms and loss of jobs.

He expressed disappoint­ment that funds provided by the Government for the resuscitation of the city’s industries had not been released to date.
“We have come here to look and cherish the great work done by our industries,” he said. “It is sad that the industries here in Bulawayo have been left to die even when the money to sup­port them is there. We approved the release of US$20 million for Bulawayo firms but to date we are told the money is not there.

“The money is there, but some people are holding onto it so that people can blame VaMugabe. This is done deliberately so that people can revolt against Mugabe’s Govern­ment.

“That is why we are saying we want elections today or tomorrow so that we can clear this mess. We want to revive Bulawayo industries to surpass their yesterday capacity.
“The proceeds we are getting from the mines should be used accordingly to revive Bulawayo. They should be used to build new companies here. That is what indigenisation means.”

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President Mugabe took the crowd down memory lane when he first arrived in Bulawayo as a young man. He said he admired the second largest city, which by that time was the economic epicentre.
“I came to Bulawayo as a young man when I worked as a teacher at Hope Fountain. Bul­awayo was a great city,” said President Mugabe. “We could go to town and buy ourselves nice suits. My father came to Bulawayo in 1934 and stayed for 10 years when the city had its glory. At that time Bulawayo was the only city in the country with quality life. Harare was nothing compared to this city.”

The President applauded Bulawayo peo­ple for coming in their large numbers to wel­come him and urged them to ensure Zanu-PF wins the next election to facilitate smooth economic development and the implementation of the indigenisation pro­gramme.
“Now is the time to remove all the snakes on our way and ensure that Bulawayo and the whole of Matabeleland is vibrant,” he said.

“When that day comes let us do it. We are here today and tomorrow (today) we have a special visitor, Zambian President Michael Sata, who is visiting Bulawayo for the first time. So tomorrow come in your large numbers and support him.”
President Mugabe said President Sata knew Zanu-PF because it is the only party that fought the liberation struggle.

“Sabambana loMdala Wethu to liberate this country. He says that is the only party he sup­ports and does not know all these other parties. He says angibazi,” said President Mugabe, drawing applause from the big crowd.

“So let us make tomorrow a real day for Bul­awayo, for all of us and once again to regenerate that old feeling of supporting the revolution and the work done by those that have gone, VaNkomo, VaMsika naVaMuzenda.
“That is why I am still there. I am a living voice of those that have gone. I will not go until all the power to manage industries and the mines are in the hands once again of the people of Zimbabwe.”

President Mugabe said the land reform pro­gramme was an irreversible success story, reit­erating that the revolution was still on through the indigenisation of industries and mines.
“The whole of Zimbabwe should go to the people of Zimbabwe and not the children of Ian Smith. So we have to talk the same lan­guage, the language of the people.

We are your voices. We are leaders that listen to you. Our work, policies and programmes are there to satisfy your needs and demands,” he said.
“We do not talk the language of the British and Americans. Abanye bagijimela khona because that is where they get their power. We know that the language they are speaking is of the Europeans.”

The President urged Zimbabweans to remain united and to cherish the spirit of unity that the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo defended.
He said the Government was aware of the poor yields as a result of the drought, which has hit most parts of Matabeleland.

President Mugabe assured the people in the region that no one would die of hunger as the Government was doing everything possible to supply food to all affected areas.

Excitement gripped the airport when Presi­dent Mugabe’s Air Zimbabwe plane landed at the JMN International Airport as the large crowd comprising different denominations, Zanu-PF supporters, ordinary people and Zambians resident in the country burst into shouting, singing, whistling and ululating.