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Yoliswa Dube and Leonard Ncube Chronicle Reporters
PREPARATIONS for the 21st February Movement celebration slated for February 28 in Victoria Falls are on course with local hotels availing free accommodation for 100 guests.Zinwa and Zesa have also pledged uninterrupted supply of water and electricity during the event to mark President Robert Mugabe’s 91st birthday.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairman, Cde Richard Moyo, said they engaged the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to  spare the resort town from load shedding and water cuts when it hosts the 21st February Movement celebration.

Cde Moyo said uninterrupted electricity and water supplies would allow the event to run smoothly.

“There won’t be any water or electricity cuts during this period. This will ensure the event is run smoothly. We’ve spoken to both Zesa and Zinwa and they’ve assured us that both services will be delivered without any interruptions,” said Cde Moyo.

The celebrations will be held under the theme “Celebrating the birth of Gushungo, the icon of Zimbabwe’s revolution and champion of youth empowerment.”

About 20,000 people are expected to attend the 29th edition of the celebrations.

Cde Moyo said preparations for the annual event were now in their final stages.

He appealed to as many Zimbabweans as possible to come and attend President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations.

“We call on party members and everyone else to attend the event. We’ve spoken to district administrators to arrange transport for school children to attend the celebrations. We’ve also roped in churches to assist with preparations,” said Cde Moyo.

He said the last meeting on preparing for the event will be held on February 20.

The 21st February Movement Celebrations will be held in three places with the main event set to be held at the Elephant Hills Resort Golf Course.

“The date for the celebrations has been confirmed as February 28. The main event will be at the Golf Course while Victoria Falls Farm School will be the venue for the children’s party. The gala will be held at Chinotimba Stadium in the evening,” said Cde Moyo.

He said the provincial leadership was happy with preparatory work done by the sub-committees so   far.

“Sub-committees are working tirelessly. We saw it fit to meet the committees to establish the gaps which might need filling. We need to hear from the sub-committees so that when we go to the national executive, we know what to report. The fundraising committee should follow up on pledges and funds given by companies,” Cde Moyo said.

Hotels in Victoria Falls have offered to accommodate more than 100 guests, mostly children, free of charge.

Incoming Hotel Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Matabeleland North Chapter president Trythings Mutyandasvika said that all players in the industry made a commitment to accommodate some of the guests for two days and two nights.

“We met and discussed a number of issues as HAZ members. Everyone is for the occasion and we offered accommodation for all the children that are coming from the 10 provinces, their leaders and some officials from government,” said Mutyandasvika.

At least 10 children from each province will grace the event.

Hwange District Administrator Tapera Mugoriya said buses have been availed to each of the seven districts in Matabeleland North province while another one would also transport chiefs to the venue.

“The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will take care of VIPs while the Hotel Association of Zimbabwe will provide free accommodation for delegates,” he said.

Mugoriya said there would be Ebola screening to ensure attendees’ safety.

Artists to perform at the gala are yet to be identified.

Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Cain Mathema, said the occasion was a historic event which people should also use to celebrate President Mugabe’s rise to the post of chairperson of the African Union.

“We’re doing this to encourage youths to emulate President Mugabe. This is an event organised by the Youth League and we’d love to see many youths in attendance. This is a historic event and we should work together,” said Cde Mathema.

This is the first time the 21st February Movement celebrations will be held in the resort town. The event is organised by the Zanu-PF Youth League annually and rotates among the country’s 10 provinces.

Last year’s edition was held in Marondera, Mashonaland East. The 21st February Movement commemorations were first held in 1986 and yearly ever since.

It is an event that has become a platform of encouraging Zimbabweans, particularly youths, to emulate President Mugabe’s revolutionary ideas, charismatic leadership and selfless policies.

President Mugabe is the patron of the movement.