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George Maponga, Masvingo Bureau

Nyika Growth Point in Bikita will today host an all-night Heroes and Defence Forces gala.

The gala starts at 6pm and will end tomorrow morning.

President Mnangagwa headlined the main Heroes and Defence Forces Day celebrations in Harare, with respective Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution leading commemorations in the country’s 10 provinces.

Heroes Day was also celebrated in various districts across the country.

The gala at Nyika Growth Point was organised by the Government through the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services.

Music fans are expected to descend at Nyika Growth Point’s Gwindingwi High School grounds where a cast of the country’s top musicians in different genres is expected to serenade thousands of people in attendance and tens of thousands who will be watching live on television.

Among some of the country’s top musicians who are expected to keep the crowd on its feet are young Zimdancehall sensation Enzo Ishall and the ever-energetic DJ Fantan who are popular, especially amongst the youth.

The sungura genre will also be heavily represented with “Huzukwende” sensation Mark Ngwazi as part of the musicians who will be performing on the night. Chief Hwenje of “Mai Welly’’ fame will also be entertaining the crowd at the Nyika Gala with his rich musical menu laced with patriotic songs billed to be popular with many.

Musicians Andy Muridzo, Dorcas Moyo, and Shantel Sithole will also be part of the entertainers in the all-night fête.

Joining them on the list of performers will be the ZCC Mutendi Brass Band, ZRP Band, and also ZPCS Band.

Masvingo-born and bred Ras Caleb the “Tokwe-Mukosi’’ hitmaker, Jah Master, and Tendai Dembo will also be in the mix on what appears to be an electric night, especially for the people of Bikita and Masvingo province as a whole.

Provincial Information Officer in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Rodgers Irimayi said all was set for the gala.

“Everything is now ready for the  gala and work on the stage is now almost finished with a focus on the final tests to make sure that everything is in place. Workmen from the Government started working on the stage on Tuesday, and power has been connected so we are almost good to go, we will have a final meeting to get an update on the preparations this afternoon(yesterday) at the venue but everything is now in place,’’ he said.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe paid tribute to President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic for choosing Nyika Growth Point to host the all-night gala in honour of the country’s fallen heroes and Zimbabwe’s defence forces.

“It is an honour for us as Masvingo province that Nyika Growth Point was this year chosen to host a national gala to celebrate our heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for a free Zimbabwe. This will also be a musical gala to celebrate our defence forces for the sterling work they continue to do in defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are happy that the whole nation will be descending at Nyika and we call upon all the people from Bikita and Masvingo province at large to come to Nyika and be part of the all-night fun,’’ he said.

Chiwewe said the gala was important as it allows Zimbabweans to celebrate the milestones taking place around the country which is projected to become an upper middle-income society by 2030 in line with Vision 2030.