Republic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe lights the torch commemorating the 32nd anniversary of national independence of this Southern African nation. Zimbabwe won its freedom from British imperiaism in 1980., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Nation urged to attend commemorations in thousands
Saturday, 13 April 2013 00:00
Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald
Harare acting Governor Alfred Tome yesterday appealed to transport operators to help ferry people to the National Sports Stadium for the 33rd Independence Day commemorations next week.
Only 13 buses will be avialable to ferry people from the usual pick up points in Harare to the giant stadium instead of 40.
“The preparations are at an advanced stage and everything is on course and going on very well. Unfortunately we have been given only 13 buses instead of the 40 that we had budgeted for,” he said.
The commemorations will be held on Thursday next week under the theme “Zimbabwe @33 — Peace, Prosperity and Economic Empowerment for National Development”.
Acting Governor Tome urged people to come in their numbers to celebrate the country’s independence.
He said by 9.45 am everyone should be seated in the stadium and the pick up points had not been changed as the few buses were expected to shuttle at least 10 times to collect people in and around the city.
Police, he said, would also waive route permits for commuter omnibus operators to alleviate transport problems.
“I strongly urge all Zimbabweans to put their political differences aside and fill the stadium for the commemorations. This is your revolutionary independence, this is your heritage and your pride,” Acting Governor Tome said.
He urged the youths to also come to the stadium and hear the wise counsel from President Mugabe.
Zanu-PF Harare provincial political commissariat Cde Onismo Gore said the party was inviting everyone in and around the city for the commemorations. Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association secretary for information and publicity Cde Hillary Maphosa urged the people to be united during the celebrations.
Cde Susan Chuma, the party’s provincial secretary for the commissariat, said, “It is our hope that everyone would join in celebrating our country’s birthday celebrations.”
The preparations for the commemorations continued on Thursday throughout the country with members of the uniformed forces and school children carrying out rehearsals.
There will be entertainment and music from various artistes among them Alick Macheso and Suluman Chimbetu.
The event will also be spiced up by a soccer match pitting two big teams from the Premier Soccer League in the Independence Trophy final.
The semi-finals will be played this weekend in Harare and Bulawayo.
Teams set up in different provinces are working hard to make the event a success.
All provincial capitals would commemorate the event that would be presided over by provincial governors and resident ministers for provinces.
The resident ministers are also expected to read President Mugabe’s speech.
The main event would be in Harare where thousands of people are expected to converge at the National Sports Stadium.
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