Matabeleland South to host 2026 independence celebrations as devolution agenda drives infrastructure growth
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
NEXT year’s Independence Day celebrations and Children’s Party will be held in Matabeleland South Province followed by Masvingo Province in 2027, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has said.
Speaking in a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Dr Muswere said the venues had been selected in line with the Cabinet-approved criteria for the selection of a venue for hosting the annual Independence Day and Children’s Party celebrations.
In the past, the celebrations were confined to Harare.
“Notwithstanding this precedent, the 2nd Republic’s Devolution Agenda catalysed a transformative shift, decentralising these events and instituting a rotational format across the ten provinces, commencing in 2021,” said Minister Muswere.
The rotation of provinces hosting Independence Day and Children’s Party Celebrations has seen Harare, 2021; Bulawayo, 2022; Mashonaland Central, 2023; Manicaland, 2024; and Midlands, 2025 hosting in the last five years.
Dr Muswere said the goal was to use these events to drive infrastructure growth in targeted areas.
“Cabinet approved criteria to determine future hosts for Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party events, based on the national Infrastructure Deficit Index.
“This prioritises provinces with the greatest infrastructure development needs among those that have not yet hosted the Uhuru celebrations.
“In accordance with the approved criteria, the Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party are scheduled to be held in Matabeleland South Province in 2026 and in Masvingo Province in 2027,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet noted the Review Report of the 45th Independence Day Celebrations and 2025 Children’s Party held in Gokwe North District, Midlands Province.
The Government undertook significant preparatory works for the major event, including the construction of a new 2 000-seater stadium at Nembudziya Open Grounds.
In addition to the stadium, various legacy projects were implemented to improve the lives of people in Midlands Province, and Gokwe North District in particular.
The projects included the construction and rehabilitation of education infrastructure, such as classrooms, hostels, and laboratories as well as upgrades to cultural heritage sites, liberation struggle memorials, and public facilities.
Government also made significant investments in health infrastructure which saw the refurbishment of the School of Nursing; upgrading of the VVIP ward; and construction of a mortuary.
A total of 20 sites offering telemedicine facilities were established and internet connected at the respective rural health centres and Gokwe North District Hospital.
Furthermore, water and sanitation projects, including the drilling of boreholes and the repair of existing ones were implemented.
The projects also focused on improving infrastructure, including roads, aviation infrastructure, and rural electrification.
Construction of priority roads included, among others, the Kadoma-Nembudziya road; the Nembudziya-Gokwe town; the Gokwe-Hovano-Tshoda road; the Sanyati-Nembudziya road; the Kwekwe-Gokwe road and many other feeder roads.
A total of 57 Village Business Units were established and 37 boreholes were repaired, with 12 of them solarised.
These initiatives aimed to improve the quality of life for residents in Gokwe North District, aligning with the Government’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
Dr Muswere said as an ongoing initiative, the Government will undertake continuous reviews to monitor progress on the completion of all legacy projects in provinces that have already hosted the Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party events, ensuring timely implementation, efficient project delivery, and accountability.
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