Zimbabwe turns 36 today.
Updates by Everson Mushava at the National Sports Stadium. Social Media by Audrey Mutasa. Editing by Tapiwa Zivira
We give you live coverage of the events at the National Sports Stadium and elsewhere.
12:37: PRESIDENT MUGABE ENDS HIS ADDRESS AND THIS TAKES US TO THE END OF OUR UPDATES. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
12:30
Still Mugabe addressing…
“Government is committed to solving social economic beeds of the people….government continues to give attention to chronic diseases… development of rural communities, where most of our people reside, remains under focus… this led to the establishemt of rural development…government remains committed to improving the welfare of civil servants so that they earn salaries above Poverty Datum Line…government apologises for late disbursement of pensions.”
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President Robert Mugabe is now addressing. We publish below excerpts of his speech.
Mugabe begins his address by paying tribute to the heroes of the country’s liberation war. The 92-year-old, who often speaks off-the-cuff, is sticking to his speech.
On the prevailing El Nino-induced drought, ‘government has taken measures to mitigate the effects of drought through grain imports.’
“There has been an “introduction of 99 year leases to guarantee our farmers security of tenure…..consolidation of diamond and good mining has started to show some results… (on) manufacturing.. I am glad to to inform you that there has been a very rapid resuscitation of companies that were facing closure….and the formation of new companies…new companies include Pure Oil, Feed Mox, Novatex..Kefalos..etc…
“The rescuscitation and formation of new companies have helped create jobs and enhance fiscal space and increased production…government has found a financier and contractor for the Beitbridge and Chirundu road to be constructed for an estimate $2 billion…”
“Airzim and NRZ are on the revival path,”says Mugabe.
If true, this could come as good news to the NRZ workers who have been holding a vigil at the company’s offices demanding their long overdue salaries.
“Power shortages have eased…we have signed a loan with a bank that enables us to do Munyati, Harare and Bulawayo power stations.”
“Efforts are being made to trasform the Beitbridge Border post to a one stop border post to ease congestion and improve trade.”
“…regarding foreign policy, Zimbabwe successfully chaired the Sadc and AU platforms…the country’s ‘Look East’ policy received a boost after the visit of (Chinese leader Xi Jin)Ping in December (last year)”
11:45
The celebrations follow a usual template, where President Robert Mugabe has presided over the inspection of the guard of honour and lit the independence flame.
What remains is whether the president’s speech will touch on the economic crisis that Zimbabwe is facing and the questions that Zimbabwe may have is whether Mugabe’s pronouncements will bear solutions to the myriad of problems that Zimbabwe is currently facing.
While the initial formalities of the event take place at the National Sports Stadium, where President Robert Mugabe is officiating, we have asked our readers what they think of this event.
Follow the conversation below.
Follow the hashtags #Zim36 here
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What our readers are saying
Zimbabwe's first competitive game after Independence was against Moza. This squad won 6-0. #Zim36 pic.twitter.com/7HxnMXkPQQ
— Ranga Mberi (@RangaMberi) April 18, 2016
Read the NewsDay Comment on the betrayal of Zimbabwe’s Independence
Zimbabwe People First party tweets about ZImbabwe @ 36
Dr JTR Mujuru on Uhuru > 36 yrs after independence, we celebrate a revolution that has lost its glow & direction > https://t.co/tBC8BK3iJS
— ZimbabwePeopleFirst (@ZimPeopleFirst) April 18, 2016
Meanwhile, opposition parties yesterday said they were celebrating Zimbabwe’s 36th Independence anniversary today with a heavy heart due to the economic meltdown, escalating human rights abuses and high levels of political intolerance by the ruling Zanu PF….Read the full story
