The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
YOUTHS from across the country will next Tuesday converge at various centres to spruce up their cities and towns’ image through a clean-up campaign.
The clean-up campaign, the first of its kind in the history of the 21st Movement is meant to celebrate President Mugabe’s birthday in style as the iconic leader is associated with smartness.
In an interview on Wednesday evening, Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial youth secretary for administration, Cde Victor Saunyama, said they had realised that most MDC-T run councils had dismally failed to clean cities and towns, hence the need of youths to chip in.
“Our founding father of this nation, President Mugabe is a smart person and as youths we saw it befitting to have clean-up campaigns to remind all local authorities on the importance of keeping the environment clean. Most cities and towns are in a sorry state in terms of cleanliness and we want to use President Mugabe’s birthday as a reminder that cities and towns should always be clean.
“The clean-up campaign will run from 11am to 1pm across the country.
“We are inviting all youths from across the political divide to participate. We have also extended our invitation to tertiary institutions and other stakeholders to come on board. In Mutare, we will converge at Meikles Park and will clean all public places especially bus termini,” said Cde Saunyama.
He said all participants would be donning 21st Movement regalia.
“2017 is a year with a difference and we want to show the world that we are an organised lot. Like we mentioned before, President Mugabe is our hero and we will always go an extra mile to make his birthday the best ever celebration in Zimbabwe.
“All travelling logistics are already in place, with delegates expected to leave next Friday. We discourage night travelling and we want to ensure that everyone is in Matabeleland South well before sunset.
“The host province has secured enough accommodation and bedding for all the expected guests. There should not be any fears for rains as enough shelter in terms of tents have been secured.
“This year we have also extended our invitation to students from tertiary institutions because they are also youths who should also join their peers in celebrating President Mugabe’s birthday. In Manicaland we enjoy a cordial working relationship with tertiary institutions and we want this to continue,” he said.
Although Manicaland was given a target to raise $25 000 for the dinner, the provincial youth leadership came up with its own target of $100 000.
Briefing delegates during Zanu-PF’s Provincial Co-ordination Committee meeting at Mutare Polytechnic last Sunday, provincial youth chairman, Cde Mubuso Chinguno, said nothing would stop them from achieving the set target.
“Manicaland is one of the richest provinces in the country and nothing can stop us from achieving our $100 000 target. We have the richest diamond deposits in the country, besides that Manicaland is also famed for its gold, timber and tantalite, so we are on top of the game. The 21st Movement is not about Zanu-PF, it is about celebrating the life of our iconic President Mugabe.
“This is the time to show the world that as Zimbabweans we appreciate President Mugabe’s leadership qualities. He is our founding father and we should accord him the respect he deserves. As youths, we are proud to have a leader like President Mugabe whose unwavering stance on empowering blacks is unquestionable,” he said.
Cde Chinguno said their target was to ferry more than 10 000 youths from Manicaland to Matabeleland South.
Cde Chinguno
“Our desire is to carry as many youths as we can to Matabeleland South. Besides being rich as a province, we are also a blessed province with the highest number of Cabinet Ministers. We should be a very proud province and we should pay back the faith President Mugabe has in this province by donating generously towards the success of his birthday.
“We have Cde Oppah Muchinguri (Minister of Water, Environment and Climate), Cde Patrick Chinamasa (Minister of Finance and Economic Development), Cde Chris Mushohwe (Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services), Cde Samuel Undenge (Minister of Energy and Power Development), Cde Joseph Made (Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development), Cde Nyasha Chikwinya (Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development), Cde Supa Mandiwanzira (Minister of Information, Communication and Technology and Courier Services), Cde Mandi Chimene (Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs), Dr John Mangudya (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor), Cde Chris Chingosho (Deputy Minister of Local Government) and Cde Win Mlambo (Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Technology and Courier Services) all serving in President Mugabe’s Government.
“On top of that, we have Cde Kudzi Chipanga as the national secretary for youth affairs. This speaks volumes of Manicaland as the leading province in this country. We hope our political leaders will play their part and lead in the donations. Our President’s birthday has nothing to do with factions and we should all join hands in celebrating this important day to the country. We want to eclipse Matabeleland South in terms of the number of people who will be in attendance,” he said.
Cde Chinguno said the money they want to raise was meant to cater for the transport and welfare of all those travelling to Matabeleland South.
“We want to leave a mark in Matabeleland South. Our youths should be smartly dressed for the occasion. We want everyone to easily identify us the people from Manicaland through our dress code. This requires a lot of money and we should not be found wanting,” he said.
The provincial fundraising committee chairperson, Cde Taurai Chiripamberi, said although the response for donations was encouraging, they would be distributing more letters to all stakeholders for them to come on board.
“Each district was given its own target. Makoni has a target of $8 000, Mutare ($10 000), Chipinge ($8 000), Mutasa ($6 000), Nyanga ($7 000), Buhera ($5 000) and Chimanimani ($6 000).
“It is everyone’s responsibility in Manicaland to ensure that more youths are accorded the chance to celebrate President Mugabe’s 93rd birthday. We are still distributing more letters to all stakeholders. As youths we are requesting the provincial leadership to avail a vehicle for use during our fundraising crusade. We are currently using our own resources and if the vehicle is availed on time we will cover a lot of ground,” said Cde Chiripamberi.
Speaking at the same occasion, Buhera South legislator, Cde Joseph Chinotimba, called on all Zimbabweans to support President Mugabe’s birthday celebrations in cash or kind.
“This is an occasion for us all as Zimbabweans and we should all play a leading role by generously donating towards the success of this day. Our President is not only a hero for Zimbabwe, but the world over and his birthday celebrations should leave a mark,” said Cde Chinotimba.
This year’s 21st Movement celebrations will be held in Matabeleland South next Saturday (February 25, 2017).
