PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will make a televised address to
Zimbabweans on the country’s 40th Independence Day tomorrow in respect to the
measures implemented by Government to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The day comes at a time when the country is under a 21-day
national lockdown declared by the Government to contain the spread of Covid-19
that has claimed more than 130 000 lives globally while confirmed cases of the
virus are almost at 2 million.
Prior to announcing the lockdown, President Mnangagwa
announced that the Government had postponed the holding of major social events
like the Independence Day celebration whose main programme was scheduled for
Bulawayo. The deputy chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also
Presidential spokesperson, Mr George Charamba, yesterday said in line with the
Government measures, the President would make a televised address.
“The President will make a televised address to the nation
on Independence Day in respect to the efforts to contain Covid-19. The address
will be broadcast from State House so he will reach Zimbabweans through
television and other media platforms,” said Mr Charamba.
Speaking to journalists on Monday after touring Gweru,
President Mnangagwa said the country has progressed in the 40 years of
self-rule while calling for unity among Zimbabweans towards a shared
prosperity. An impromptu tour of Gweru to assess residents’ compliance with the
21-day lockdown turned into a nostalgic journey for him as he reminisced on the
days of the liberation struggle sparked as he passed through iconic
institutions like Monomotapa Hall, in Mutapa suburb where Zanu held its first
congress in 1964.
“All what we need to do is to be united and be focused to
make sure that the resources of our country are exploited to develop, modernise
our country and upgrade the life standards of our people. Yes, there are things
like climate change, which has affected us, the consecutive droughts are also a
challenge and currently of course as a result of Covid-19, we are suffering
both economically and socially and it’s a back-draw,” said President Mnangagwa.
“But it’s not only Zimbabwe, the effect of Covid-19 is worldwide, we have to do
our best.
“Primarily, what is most important is that we preserve
lives because if we lose lives, we will never resurrect them but if we have
problems with the economy, we can always reconstruct the economy and grow it
again.”
The first celebrations outside Harare since 1980 were meant
to be held in Bulawayo at Barbourfields Stadium and preparations were at an
advanced stage but everything was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Herald
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