Zimbabwe honours defence forces
Top2

Members of the Zimbabwe National Army demonstrate an unarmed combat karate drill during the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day celebrations at White City Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday

Chronicle Reporters
THOUSANDS of people yesterday converged at various venues in the country’s 10 provinces to mark the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day.
The main celebrations were at the National Sports Stadium in Harare where the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces President Mugabe officiated.

In Bulawayo, the celebrations were at White City Stadium.
People from all walks of life, including senior civil servants and Zanu-PF cadres, started trickling into the stadium at around 8am, three hours before the start of the main programme.

The guest of honour, Cde Cain Mathema, who is the outgoing Governor of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, arrived at 11am accompanied by One Brigade Commander Brigadier General Thomas Moyo and Deputy Commander of Bulawayo District Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Patrick Muyambuki.

Proceedings started with the singing of the national anthem after which Governor Mathema inspected the guard of honour, which was followed by a series of entertaining military displays in the form of drills and marches.

Later on Governor Mathema read the President’s speech.
Several local arts groups added flavour to the entertainment with scintillating performances that kept the crowd amused.

Meanwhile, scores of enterprising vendors enjoyed brisk business through selling their goods to the people gathered at the stadium.
In Gweru, scores of people from across the Midlands Province thronged Mkoba Stadium for the Defence Force Day celebrations. The gathering which included children from houses within the vicinity of the stadium was treated to drills and displays by the uniformed forces.

The proceedings started at 11am when Midlands Governor Cde Jason Machaya, who was the reviewing officer, arrived at the venue.
Soon after Governor Machaya’s arrival, 5 Brigade Army band led the crowd in singing the national anthem. The reviewing officer then inspected the parade followed by the slow and quick march by the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe which mounted six detachments led by Major Taka Dewa from 5 Brigade.

Cde Machaya read the President’s speech at exactly 12noon. Soon after the main speech, the parade marched off before the 5 Brigade band led the crowd in singing the national anthem to mark the end of the programme.

In Matabeleland South, the commemorations were at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda where at least                         3 000 people gathered to join the rest of the nation in celebrating Defence Forces Day.

Celebrations started at around 9am with a mass parade by the Zimbabwe National Army accompanied by drum majorettes marching from Gwanda Town Centre to Phelandaba Stadium.

The guest of honour was Matabeleland South Provincial Governor and Resident Minister Angeline Masuku.
Senior service chiefs  who attended the celebration included Bulawayo District Commander Colonel Exebious Vusa Tshuma, Officer Commanding Police Matabeleland South Senior Assistant Commissioner Munyaradzi Goodwill Musariri and Officer Commanding Zimbabwe Prison Services in Matabeleland South, Chief Superintendent Social Ndanga.

Official proceedings started at around 10.30am with the singing of the national anthem before Cde Masuku inspected a parade which was mounted by the ZNA.

The crowd was entertained by spectacular military displays and marches as well as drum majorettes, which made the day a fantastic family day out.

Governor Masuku delivered the President’s speech at around 11.45am.
Prior to delivering the President’s speech, Cde Masuku paid tribute to the people of Matabeleland South for maintaining a peaceful environment throughout the election period and beyond and also encouraged the people to continue with the same spirit.
Cde Masuku said people in the province had shamed the country’s detractors by voting for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF in the elections as they showed that only the President was the rightful leader of this country, with the interests of the people at heart.

“We are grateful for the peace and respect you displayed during the election period. Our province has in the past years been in the wrong hands but today I am proud of you because we have taken back our province.

“You are very special people as you have shown the enemy that only President Mugabe is the rightful leader of this country,” she said.
The crowds were also entertained by local music  and dance groups and soccer matches later in the afternoon.

Among the dignitaries who graced the celebrations were Public Service Deputy Minister, who is also the Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Cde Andrew Langa, the recently elected MPs from Gwanda District and the newly elected Senator Alma Mkhwebu.

In Lupane, hundreds of people converged on Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane for the commemorations.
The celebrations started at 11am when the guest of honour, Matabeleland North Governor Thokozile Mathuthu inspected a parade mounted by 12 Infantry Battalion from Hwange.

After the inspection, the gathering was mesmerised by colourful drills by members of the Zimbabwe National Army before Governor Mathuthu read the President’s speech at 11.30 am.

Children from different schools in Lupane who recited poems that reflected the significance of  the defence forces in defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity also entertained the gathering.

Service chiefs from Matabeleland North province, the local war veterans association leadership, Hwange and Lupane local boards’ officials including councillors, Chief Mabhikwa, Senators, and National Assembly Members from the province, among others attended the occasion.

The event culminated with a soccer match pitting     the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
In Masvingo there was a high turnout at Mucheke Stadium where Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke officiated.

Entertainment was provided by the army who did quick and slow march drills, mock battles much to the applause of the appreciative crowd.
Mutimurefu Prison inmates kept the crowd spellbound with their mouth-watering traditional dances before a soccer match between Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and an army soccer team in the afternoon.

Acting 4 Infantry Brigade Commander Colonel Gift Murahwa applauded people of Masvingo for joining hands with the ZDF in commemorating the Defence Forces Day.

He said community projects had cemented relationship between society and the army.
Similar events were held in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland to commemorate Defence Forces Day.

President Mugabe led proceedings in Harare starting with an inspection of a guard of honor mounted by both the Zimbabwe National Army and Air Force of Zimbabwe.

After singing of the national anthem that coincided with a fly-past, Cde Mugabe conferred 1 250 officers with medals before he gave his keynote address.

The crowd was treated to several entertainment activities and displays.
The major attraction was parachute displays by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

The crowd rose in joy when the paratroopers showcased their skills while the quick and slow marches were also a marvel.
It was a joyful moment when the ZNA band sang the war cry which carried a message of peace and unity with the crowd singing along.

The crowd went into a delirium when the Air Force of Zimbabwe traditional dance group took the stage to display their energetic dancing skills.
Popular musicians Aleck Macheso and Suluman Chimbetu also entertained the crowd.

You Might Also Like

Comments