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Zanu-PF party’s Youth League members in carnival mood march in the streets of Bulawayo yesterday in celebration ahead of today’s interface

Nduduzo Tshuma/Nqobile Tshili
ALL is set for the 9th Presidential Youth Interface Rally at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo today as the Zanu-PF youth league yesterday evoked the memory of one of the country’s founding nationalists, the late Dr Joshua Nkomo.

Zanu-PF national secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Kudzanai Chipanga yesterday said all was set for President Mugabe’s address to the youth of Bulawayo calling for discipline among the party faithfuls for the successful running of the interface.

He said the presence of President Mugabe in Bulawayo on Thursday, two days before the interface rally, had helped in boosting morale among the people and therefore thousands are expected at White City Stadium today.

President Mugabe arrived in Bulawayo on Thursday to preside over the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) graduation ceremony yesterday and remained in the city for today’s interface rally.

“We are happy to say that the presence of His Excellency in Bulawayo days before the interface helped boost the morale. All preparations have been completed and the President has been here since yesterday (Thursday) so what it means is that everything is in place and the interface is ready to roar,” said Cde Chipanga.

“We also want to remind our members that Zanu-PF is a party of discipline and urge them to conduct themselves in a disciplined manner so that our event runs smoothly.”

Cde Chipanga paid tribute to the Zanu-PF Bulawayo province for working as a united team to prepare for today’s event whose proceedings will be punctuated by music from South African musicians and locals.

Cde Chipanga, yesterday afternoon also led a delegation that toured the venue to check on the final preparations before visiting Dr Nkomo’s house in Pelandaba.

He was accompanied by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, Politburo and Central Committee members from Bulawayo, members of the youth league national executive and Bulawayo provincial executive members as well as local legislators.

At Dr Nkomo’s house, addressing the revolutionary icon’s son, Sibangilizwe Nkomo, Cde Chipanga said they had decided to visit to connect with the history of the late Vice President.  “We decided as the youth league to come to the house where Father Zimbabwe used to live. We feel as young people that we need to remember and cherish the contribution of Dr Nkomo to both the country and the party Zanu-PF,” he said.

Cde Chipanga said Dr Nkomo’s house had a rich history of the country’s liberation struggle and pledged that the youth league will sit and discuss ways to assist in the maintenance of the liberation icon’s house.

“We remain guided by the vision of Dr Nkomo and as the youth, we need to know and appreciate our history. It is important to know where we are coming from and that influences where we are and also where we are going,” he said. Mr Nkomo paid tribute to the Zanu-PF youth league for visiting his father’s home saying the house does not belong to the Nkomo family but to all Zimbabweans.

He said Dr Nkomo had told them before his death that the house was to remain accessible to everyone who wants to connect with the history of the liberation icon and that of the country.

Meanwhile, the party’s Youth League conducted a carnival in the city centre in preparation of today’s event.

The carnival comprised traditional dance groups, drum majorettes who joined the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services as it serenaded the people with its melodious tunes during a march that started at Makokoba suburb’s Stanley Square and ended at the City Hall car Park.