BULAWAYO mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni yesterday called on
the people of Matabeleland region to rise above political differences and come
in their numbers for the main programme of the Independence Day celebrations
held in the city for the first time since 1980.
Harare province has hosted the past 39 Independence Day
celebrations and the Government last year, in line with its devolution thrust,
resolved to decentralise the main programme of national events.
Bulawayo province was since been selected to host this
year’s main Independence Day at the iconic Barbourfields Stadium. In an interview yesterday, Clr Mguni lauded the Government
for taking national events to other provinces in the country.
“This is a good development for the city and the region.
Therefore, residents must rise above politics and participate in this as it’s
for a national cause. These national events should be devolved to other centres
and communities so that people in those areas feel that they are part of the
country. It was not good that all national events were being held in Harare,
the country is bigger than Harare,” said Clr Mguni.
He said the City of Bulawayo is also looking forward to
economically benefitting through hosting the national event.
Clr Mguni said he is hoping Government would also provide
necessary resources towards hosting of Independence Day celebrations.
“We also want to encourage Government to assist us in
sprucing up infrastructure that is going to be used during the day. We need
assistance in rehabilitating our roads. Some of our roads are in bad shape
because of the rains so we want assistance in rehabilitating them as we are
anticipating increased traffic flows. We also have water problems that we hope
Government would chip in to address as the city host the momentous event,” said
Clr Mguni.
He said as Bulawayo hosts Independence Day, the city is
also cognisant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) that is causing havoc globally and
has been confirmed in the neighbouring South Africa.
Clr Mguni said Government should provide adequate health
care materials to the city to improve the city’s health preparedness in
anticipation of increased volumes of people visiting the city.
Acting Bulawayo provincial development coordinator Mrs
Khonzani Ncube said the province has started to mobilise resources and people
to attend the national event.
“This is a national event and we don’t want it to be
politicised. Already our teams are on the ground mobilising people to attend
the event. There is no excuse for members of the public not to attend. Buses
are going to pick up residents to and from Barbourfields,” said Mrs Ncube.
She said Government was working with business community,
sports, art sector, civic society, the church among other societal institutions
to make the event a success.- Chronicle
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