Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Meshke Mugadza has sent a dire warning that no one should stay home in Buhera when President Emmerson Mnangagwa visits for Independence Day celebrations next month.
Mugadza made the remarks while addressing various church communities in Murambinda Growth Point on Saturday during a national day of prayer in preparation for Independence Day celebrations.
Zanu PF National Chairman, Obah Muchinguri, was the guest of honour.
The growth hotspot of Murambinda, where poverty and underdevelopment are widespread, will host the celebrations during which Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour.
The celebrations will be held under the slogan Zim@44: Unity, Peace and Development towards Vision 2030.
“During Independence Day celebrations, no one should be seen at home,” said Mugadza, a member of parliament for Zanu PF Mutasa South.
“If you are seen in the house, you are a thief.”
There are now fears that villagers and residents in Murambinda will walk frogs to celebrations, as national events increasingly turn into impromptu ZANU-PF rallies.
During Youth Day celebrations held in Masvingo in February, Mnangagwa addressed a rally at which his loyalists supported extending his term beyond 2028.
The country’s constitution prohibits an incumbent from taking advantage of a constitutional amendment to limit term.
Mnangagwa may need to hold a referendum to extend his term.
“I am happy that the churches came in your numbers. This shows that you support President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” Mugadza said.
Zanu PF Buhera North MP, Philip Guyo, said thousands of villagers were expected to attend the Independence Day celebrations.
The government has since ordered all local authorities in Manicaland to camp in Buhera district where they are carrying out rehabilitation works including road maintenance to ensure Zanu PF bigwigs have a comfortable journey in and out of the poverty-stricken area.
The 120-kilometre-long Murambinda and Birchnav Bridge Growth Point Road is being rehabilitated.
For many in the previously neglected Murrambinda area, this is the first time they have seen government departments beautifying the area ahead of the celebrations.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF has expanded begging to businesses in Manicaland to fund major 44th Independence Day celebrations.
Some companies, which declined to be identified last week, said they had made several visits from Zanu PF officials to obtain donations such as fuel and cash to feed the crowds expected to attend the celebrations.
“Zanu PF has approached us to help fund the Independence Day celebrations in Murambinda, and there is nothing we can do but help,” said a company official, who declined to reveal his identity for fear of becoming a victim.
Zanu PF information director Farai Marabira said: “There is nothing wrong with asking for help, what we do not want is blackmail. Remember this is a national event and has nothing to do with politics.”
Some Zanu PF officials are known to exploit such events to line their pockets by misusing the party’s name and dropping names to deceive potential donors. ZANU-PF also turned to churches, especially apostolic orders, to mobilize their members to attend in large numbers. Newsday
