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As early as 9am, villagers had started gathering at the venue, 2km along the Bulawayo-Harare road.

 

They were toyi-toying, chanting liberation songs and slogans.

One of the songs that captured the souls of villagers was the famous liberation struggle song, Emoyeni, which was produced by the Light Machine Gun (LMG) choir.

There was also abundant food and drinks with 10 cattle having been slaughtered.

There was also a mixture of sporting activities such as cycling, football and netball and that spiced up the celebrations.

To add weight to the well-attended occasion, politicians such as Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu, Public Service Deputy Minister and local legislator Andrew Langa, Zanu-PF Central Committee member, Cde Molly Mpofu, and the party’s provincial members for Bulawayo Province, Cdes Charles Chiponda and Silas Dlomo, were in attendance.

A group of white commercial farmers including prominent farmer in the area, Mr Jim Goddard, also graced the occasion.

Others were the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu and suspended Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League secretary-general Samukeliso Silengane.

Before the District Public Service Commissioner Mr Moses Dlomo read President Mugabe’s speech, villagers led by war veteran and Zanu-PF Matabeleland South deputy secretary for information and publicity Cde Jabulani Phetshu danced to revolutionary music.

Addressing the villagers after the President’s speech, Cde Langa said the attainment of Independence was important to each and every citizen.

“As we celebrate 32 years of freedom, we should ask ourselves what we have contributed in terms of development of this country,” he said.

“Indigenisation is one of the gains of independence and there is no going back on that. All big international corporations that have been benefiting from our resources should plough back to the people who are the rightful owners of the resources.”

Cde Langa warned some elements who were allegedly masquerading as war veterans and displacing people that they risk facing the wrath of the law.

“You should not allow them to intimidate you, if they come and intimidate you again, let them be warned that we are going to take stern action against them,” said Cde Langa.

Cde Phetshu declared Matabeleland South provincial Zanu-PF chairperson Cde Langa as the Insiza North constituency candidate in the next elections.

“We are going to stand by this man (Cde Langa) in the next elections,” said Cde Phetshu.

Describing the festivities, Mr Goddard, who was one of the people who sourced the resources for the day said: “It was so colourful and animated.”

Mr Goddard also bought hundreds of copies of Chronicle that were distributed at the function and other centres in different parts of Matabeleland South.

Mr Goddard said it was the best Independence Day celebrations the district has had in many years.

“This was by far one of the best Independence Day celebrations we had and we will be much happier if we have a repeat of this next year,” he said.

At the end of the festivities, a villager Mr Thabani Mlotshwa, said the attainment of independence meant that each and every Zimbabwean has a right to their resources.

“Now we have access to education, employment and more importantly we have land,” said Mr Mlotshwa.