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Cletus Mushanawani Mash Central Bureau
MASHONALAND Central Province wants to have unique Independence Day celebrations that resonate well with the new political dispensation.

This year will be the first Uhuru celebrations under the new dispensation.

The province has extended an invitation to their neighbours in Tete Province, Mozambique.

Besides hosting the Mozambican delegation, the province is planning to have an Independence Ball and a public lecture where students from tertiary institutions and high schools will be taken through the country’s road to independence.

So far, the province has held three meetings to prepare for this year’s historic event which will see a new president apart from Mr Robert Mugabe presiding over the main celebrations scheduled for the National Sports Stadium on April 18 for the first time.

In a recent interview, the Independence Day Preparatory Committee chairperson, Mr Cosmas Chiringa, described this year’s celebrations as unique and encouraged Zimbabweans to come in their numbers.

“This year’s celebrations are unique because for the first time, a new president will be presiding over them,” he said.

“As a province, we want to have our own unique way of celebrating this historic event.

“We know that our traditional sponsors are hard pressed by the economic challenges affecting the country, but with the little resources we want to have Independence Day celebrations to remember. We are all basking in the glory of the new political dispensation and this should give every Zimbabwean a reason to celebrate,” he said.

Mr Chiringa said they were not only focusing on provincial celebrations, as every district would have its own celebrations.

“We want to have a public lecture on the country’s road to independence at Bindura University of Science Education,” he said.

“We will be finalising the list of the presenters because we want to have the best who will share with our future leaders the actual history of the liberation struggle.

“Our children should know how this country was liberated and this will help them defend its sovereignty. The past shapes the future, so we should constantly remind our children on the importance of independence to them.”

On the invitation they made to their Mozambican counterparts, Mr Chiringa said: “We were in Tete Province recently and our Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs, Advocate Martin Dinha formally invited them.

“Zimbabwe’s independence came through a lot of sacrifices from gallant sons and daughters of both countries and we need to celebrate together.”

Mr Chiringa said he was happy with the progress made so far in preparing for the celebrations.