Hosia Mviringi
When the news filtered in that Mt Darwin had been selected to host this year’s Independence celebrations, a first of its kind in independent Zimbabwe, the feeling amongst many skeptics was like, “How can Mashonaland Central Province afford to host such a massive event given the seemingly ‘inadequate’ infrastructure in the province?” Many skeptics doubted the ability for Mt Darwin, a rural district which has just been accorded town status to host an event of such a magnitude.
A look at all feeder roads into Mt. Darwin town on April 18, 2023, the atmosphere resembled the euphoria that griped the nation on the same day in 1980 when Zimbabwe’s Independence was birthed. Roads were packed with both vehicular and human traffic, while long que formed outside the main venue at the newly opened Mt Darwin High School grounds (quickly nicknamed ED Mnangagwa Stadium).
Overnight, Mt Darwin was transformed and everyone from all over the country fell in love with the town. Not a single person walked out of the venue until the last ball was kicked to mark the end of the program. Amazing it was!
Speaking to one of the key organizers of the event and recently endorsed ZANU PF Senate candidate for Mt Darwin Dr. James Makamba, it is clear that nothing is impossible with unity of purpose and determined leadership in place, in this instance the resolute leadership by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“ZANU PF party, and indeed Zimbabwe is blessed to have a leader in the caliber of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. When the decision was announced, as Mashonaland Central Province, and in particular Mt Darwin District, we were neither surprised nor alarmed. As a province we have never doubted the leadership of our President. As such we immediately believed that it can be done, and we activated our systems to make the event a successful reality. And as they say, the rest is history,” said Dr. Makamba.
President Mnangagwa, himself a decorated liberation war fighter and a man who sacrificed his youth for the sake of the country’s independence, is a man of sound judgment and immense loyalty to the nation. As such his decision to gift Mt Darwin with an honor to host this historic national event was not a mistake. If anything it was a blessing to the province and to Mt Darwin district itself as witnessed by massive improvements to infrastructure and resultant business opportunities for local traders. Roads were built and refurbished while a total of 40 boreholes were drilled in and around Mt Darwin. The infrastructure naturally becomes a lifetime benefit to the people of Mt Darwin.
“So in arriving at the decision to hold this year’s celebrations in this arid border town of Mt Darwin, I am convinced that the President was persuaded, to a larger extent, by the history of the liberation struggle in the province given the prominent role that Mt Darwin played as the main artery for mass recruitment of cadres into Mozambique for military training. This is evidenced by the large number of ex-combatants from the province some who occupy senior positions both in the party and government.”
Dr. Makamba was however quick to point out that the awarding of the right to host this event was far from being a reward to the province for its historic role in the liberation struggle but a befitting recognition of the immense sacrifices by the province in delivering a free Zimbabwe. The province was instrumental as a reliable rear base and a launch pad for the liberation struggle. In fact, said Dr. Makamba, it was a challenge and test of character for the province as all eyes would now be focused on the province.
Dr. Makamba expressed gratitude to the President for living up to his promise under the mantra ‘Leaving no one and no place behind’ and his commitment to the devolution concept of governance. The hosting of the event in Mt Darwin is a manifestation of the President’s commitment to give power back to the people in the spirit of decentralization of events. The event literally brought Harare to Mt Darwin. It brought equalization as rural pupils could stand shoulder to shoulder with their urban counterparts in massive spectacular displays which demystified superiority of urban children over their rural counterparts. It defeated the myth that all good things happen in Harare and other urban centres.
Unity of purpose and a big sense of patriotism carried the day for the event.
“Once we got wind of the divine favor to host the event, we quickly got together as a province and in unity we gracefully accepted the challenge to play trailblazers in hosting this important national event. We worked closely with party and government leadership to deliver a superbly organized event. Our people in the province were motivated to attend the event by many factors chief among which was a chance to interact with their hero, President Mnangagwa and his senior leadership for the first time on home ground.
"People from all over the province knew that this once-in-a-lifetime event would bring together the whole government, Ambassadors, as well as prominent business people in one place, thus it was an event never to be missed. This was a confirmation that with dedication and honest leadership you can create a city anywhere. This event transformed Mt Darwin into a city overnight.”
One of the surprise highlights of the event was the attendance by the country’s former Vice President and a prominent daughter of Mt Darwin District, Dr. Joyce Mujuru, a gesture which many analysts and observers believe is the beginning of the coming back together of long time compatriots and liberation struggle comrades. Dr Makamba welcomed the attendance by this prominent daughter of Mt Darwin District as a show of support and endorsement of the president’s decision to bring this event to the district.
“Mai Joyce Mujuru is a prominent and illustrious daughter of Mt Darwin and an influential figure in ZANU PF. As such having her grace this national event was a big endorsement for the efforts that the province had put in to make the event a success. Her gracing of the event cannot be ignored in the spirit of national discourse especially when the President is always preaching unity both within the party and at national level. I believe that in unity we can achieve more. As the country heads for decisive harmonised general elections, it becomes even more critical that all citizens come together and unite for the ultimate goal of maintaining peace as a sacred ingredient to national development.”
“To many observers, the embrace by the President himself as well as the First Lady, Vice Presidents CDGN Chiwenga and KCD Mohadi and the ZANU PF National Chairman OCZ Muchinguri Kashiri, all displayed deep emotional reconnection for comrades who share a lot of historical experiences. This should be a good omen for the country and party as many other cadres scattered outside the country could take cue from this gesture in considering their future standing in the party and country at large. President Mnangagwa on this occasion proved that it was not his intention and neither does he derive pleasure in watching fellow cadres languishing in the shadows of national discourse and relevance”
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