Zimbabwe's turning 45 this year, and they're throwing a massive party to celebrate! But get this - instead of having the shindig in the capital city like usual, they're moving it to the sticks. Yep, the big birthday bash is going down at the Mutora Grounds in Nembudziya, way out in Gokwe North District. It's a big change from the regular Harare venues.
President Mnangagwa's all about including everyone and spreading love, so this move is right up his alley. His whole deal is "leaving no one and no place behind." Last year, Manicaland Province kicked off the trend by hosting a party outside a city. Now, it's Midlands' turn to take the reins. Mutora Grounds, deep in the heart of rural Gokwe, is gonna be the place to be on this big day.
The prep work for this year's blowout has already kicked off some serious development at Mutora's Nembudziya Open Grounds. The place is being spruced up at lightning speed, getting ready for the 45th Independence Day and the Uhuru Cup. It's a perfect example of this year's theme: "Zim @ 45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030."
Bringing the national celebration and building up the area go hand in hand. It's gonna leave a lasting impact, with over 100,000 people expected to join in on this historic moment. Before the main event, the First Family is hosting a Children's Party on April 17th at Nyamuroro High School. Later that night, the Independence Gala is going down at Nembudziya Government High School.
Over 3,000 kid delegates are expected to crash at Nyamuroro High School from April 15 to 19. Meanwhile, the main event arena, the gala site, and the Children's Party venue are all getting major upgrades. The government has been busy drilling over 120 boreholes across Gokwe North and South, including the spots where the events are happening.
The party's gonna have all the classic Independence Day stuff - lighting the flame, the Torch Relay, and a bunch of cultural performances by dance crews and artists from Kwekwe, Gokwe, and other districts. Football fans are in for a treat, too. Simba Bhora and FC Platinum are gonna face off at the main celebration, while Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos will duke it out at the Children's Party.
But this shindig isn't just about celebrating independence. It's also about praising the Midlands province and the big role it played in Zimbabwe's fight for freedom. They're shining a light on key historical spots like Mtapa Hall in Gweru, where the first Zanu congress took place in 1964, and the Wha-Wha and Sikombela Detention Centres, which held a bunch of nationalists during the war. These places are powerful reminders of the sacrifices made during the long, hard struggle for freedom.
Over at the Mutora Business Centre, they're hustling to get everything ready for the 60,000 people they're expecting. Contractors are working 24/7 to make sure the venue's good to go. They're building a brand new stadium and changing rooms as part of the bigger plan to transform the area. Plus, the roads leading to Mutora are getting a major facelift. This'll be a big win for the locals even after the party's over.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube says everything's on track for the big day. Donations from businesses are already rolling in, giving the prep work an extra boost. The area's residents are hyped about the chance to host such a huge national event.
Jacob Mukaro, a Gokwe resident, can't wait for the double whammy of celebrating independence and seeing development in action. He's especially stoked about the new stadium, which will allow professional football games in the area. The lack of paved roads has been a major headache for Gokwe North residents for ages. But thanks to this year's celebration, they're finally getting a tarred road. It's a much-needed upgrade.
Robert Maguma, a grocery shop owner at Mutora Business Centre, says the whole community is buzzing with anticipation. They're all looking forward to the economic boost the event will bring. This year's Independence Day celebration theme, "Zim@45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030," shows just how committed the government is to spreading love and development around.
By having the party in the Midlands, the government is not just celebrating the country's freedom but also trying to jumpstart development in areas that used to be left behind. They want to make sure everyone in Zimbabwe gets to enjoy the perks of independence.
Before, Harare was always the go-to spot for national festivities. But under President Mnangagwa, he's made it a point to switch things up and rotate the celebrations between different provinces. It's all part of his master plan to make sure no one and no place gets left out. By moving the party around, every region gets a chance to benefit from the legacy projects that come with hosting the main event.
Engineer Akim Maravira, the head honcho at the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, is feeling good about where they're at with the key infrastructure projects. He says they're way past the halfway point, and everything'll be ready to roll.
"Everyone's busting their butts here in Gokwe Nembudziya, where the 2025 Independence Day Celebrations are gonna be. We've kicked things into high gear, and we're 75% done. We're aiming to have everything wrapped up by April 10th," he said.
President Mnangagwa's all about including everyone and spreading love, so this move is right up his alley. His whole deal is "leaving no one and no place behind." Last year, Manicaland Province kicked off the trend by hosting a party outside a city. Now, it's Midlands' turn to take the reins. Mutora Grounds, deep in the heart of rural Gokwe, is gonna be the place to be on this big day.
The prep work for this year's blowout has already kicked off some serious development at Mutora's Nembudziya Open Grounds. The place is being spruced up at lightning speed, getting ready for the 45th Independence Day and the Uhuru Cup. It's a perfect example of this year's theme: "Zim @ 45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030."
Bringing the national celebration and building up the area go hand in hand. It's gonna leave a lasting impact, with over 100,000 people expected to join in on this historic moment. Before the main event, the First Family is hosting a Children's Party on April 17th at Nyamuroro High School. Later that night, the Independence Gala is going down at Nembudziya Government High School.
Over 3,000 kid delegates are expected to crash at Nyamuroro High School from April 15 to 19. Meanwhile, the main event arena, the gala site, and the Children's Party venue are all getting major upgrades. The government has been busy drilling over 120 boreholes across Gokwe North and South, including the spots where the events are happening.
The party's gonna have all the classic Independence Day stuff - lighting the flame, the Torch Relay, and a bunch of cultural performances by dance crews and artists from Kwekwe, Gokwe, and other districts. Football fans are in for a treat, too. Simba Bhora and FC Platinum are gonna face off at the main celebration, while Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos will duke it out at the Children's Party.
But this shindig isn't just about celebrating independence. It's also about praising the Midlands province and the big role it played in Zimbabwe's fight for freedom. They're shining a light on key historical spots like Mtapa Hall in Gweru, where the first Zanu congress took place in 1964, and the Wha-Wha and Sikombela Detention Centres, which held a bunch of nationalists during the war. These places are powerful reminders of the sacrifices made during the long, hard struggle for freedom.
Over at the Mutora Business Centre, they're hustling to get everything ready for the 60,000 people they're expecting. Contractors are working 24/7 to make sure the venue's good to go. They're building a brand new stadium and changing rooms as part of the bigger plan to transform the area. Plus, the roads leading to Mutora are getting a major facelift. This'll be a big win for the locals even after the party's over.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube says everything's on track for the big day. Donations from businesses are already rolling in, giving the prep work an extra boost. The area's residents are hyped about the chance to host such a huge national event.
Jacob Mukaro, a Gokwe resident, can't wait for the double whammy of celebrating independence and seeing development in action. He's especially stoked about the new stadium, which will allow professional football games in the area. The lack of paved roads has been a major headache for Gokwe North residents for ages. But thanks to this year's celebration, they're finally getting a tarred road. It's a much-needed upgrade.
Robert Maguma, a grocery shop owner at Mutora Business Centre, says the whole community is buzzing with anticipation. They're all looking forward to the economic boost the event will bring. This year's Independence Day celebration theme, "Zim@45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030," shows just how committed the government is to spreading love and development around.
By having the party in the Midlands, the government is not just celebrating the country's freedom but also trying to jumpstart development in areas that used to be left behind. They want to make sure everyone in Zimbabwe gets to enjoy the perks of independence.
Before, Harare was always the go-to spot for national festivities. But under President Mnangagwa, he's made it a point to switch things up and rotate the celebrations between different provinces. It's all part of his master plan to make sure no one and no place gets left out. By moving the party around, every region gets a chance to benefit from the legacy projects that come with hosting the main event.
Engineer Akim Maravira, the head honcho at the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, is feeling good about where they're at with the key infrastructure projects. He says they're way past the halfway point, and everything'll be ready to roll.
"Everyone's busting their butts here in Gokwe Nembudziya, where the 2025 Independence Day Celebrations are gonna be. We've kicked things into high gear, and we're 75% done. We're aiming to have everything wrapped up by April 10th," he said.
