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Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council will next Monday join the rest of the world in celebrating residents aged 100 years and above.

The local authority has called on residents to submit names and contact details of those aged 100 years and above as it is set to honour them at the Small City Hall in the city centre.

October 1 is International Day of Older Persons and is celebrated worldwide.

The city fathers will be celebrating long life, acknowledging centenarians’ wisdom and showing respect to them for contributing to the development of the country’s second largest city.

BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu described the programme as a community initiative where the local authority has partnered independent organisations to celebrate those aged 100 years and above.

“Members of the community through the Bulawayo Shoe Box project approached Council in 2017 to partner with them in celebrating the elderly. In the past, Council has celebrated and acknowledged the elderly as they have a wealth of information, wisdom and knowledge,” she said.

Mrs Mpofu said any community group or corporate wishing to come on board is welcome.

“They have contributed to the development of the City and we want to thank God for the gift of life. We want everyone who is willing to come on board and join the celebration,’’ she said.

“The first effort is to acknowledge their existence in the City by spending time with them and to celebrate their longevity. Life is a gift and we want to celebrate that”.

Mrs Mpofu said last year, 15 centenarians of ages ranging from 100 to 114 years attended the celebrations. – @tamary98