For
the
first
time,
the
province
hosted
the
main
Independence
Day
celebrations,
officiated
by
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
and
attended
by
several
government
officials,
marking
a
rare
moment
for
Matabeleland
South
to
stage
an
event
of
this
scale.
Inside
the
newly
built
Maphisa
‘stadium’,
official
proceedings
marked
the
occasion,
while
outside,
the
true
spirit
of
independence
was
on
display,
as
ordinary
Zimbabweans,
driven
by
enterprise,
hustle
and
survival,
turned
a
national
celebration
into
an
economic
opportunity.
Dozens
of
informal
traders,
food
vendors
and
small-scale
entrepreneurs
converged
outside
the
venue
selling
various
food
items,
trinkets
and
clothing
wares
on
Saturday
to
earn
a
living.
Travelling
from
as
far
as
Bulawayo
and
Masvingo,
while
joined
by
local
residents,
they
arrived
with
pots,pans,
gas
stoves,
groceries
and
high
hopes
of
cashing
in
on
the
large
crowds.
Although
early
rains
disrupted
business,
dampening
both
the
ground
and
spirits,
activity
picked
up
as
the
weather
cleared,
with
vendors
reporting
a
gradual
increase
in
customers
as
the
day
progressed.
“I
came
from
Masvingo
by
bus
and
arrived
after
10am.
People
are
now
starting
to
buy,”
said
74-year-old
Conciria
Kudzani,
also
known
as
Giant.
“We
brought
our
wares
and
we
will
return
to
Masvingo
after
the
celebrations.
We
are
happy,
it
is
better
than
nothing.
This
is
my
first
time
in
Matabeleland
South,
and
I
am
seeing
the
joy
of
independence
here
locally.”
From
Bulawayo’s
Nketha
suburb,
27-year-old
Cynthia
Nyathi
said
she
left
home
before
dawn
to
secure
a
good
spot.
“We
left
around
5am
and
arrived
after
7am.
We
started
selling
as
soon
as
we
arrived
–
chips,
drinks,
and
Russian
sausages
for
$1.50,
”
she
said.
“We
carried
everything
we
needed
from
Bulawayo
and
we
are
happy
so
far.
We
will
only
leave
when
the
festivities
end.”
Others
had
arrived
days
earlier
in
anticipation
of
crowds,
as
Mbalenhle
Dube
(23),
from
Emganwini
in
Bulawayo,
said
she
had
been
in
Maphisa
for
several
days
preparing
for
the
event.
“We
are
selling
sausage
rolls,
samoosas,
scones,
isitshwala,
drinks
and
water,”
she
said.
“Business
has
been
slow,
but
we
come
daily
because
we
expected
these
crowds.
The
road
is
better
now,
it
used
to
be
bad.
Independence
Day
has
taught
us
as
young
people
how
to
survive
and
be
independent.”
For
local
vendors,
the
event
brought
both
some
hope
and
relief
with
Phathiwe
Tshabalala
(66),
from
Mahetshe,
said
she
was
selling
bananas,
cream
doughnuts
and
drinks
to
help
cover
school
fees.
“Business
is
slow
for
now,
but
we
are
hopeful
that
by
the
end
of
the
day
we
will
have
made
something,”
she
said.
“We
are
happy
as
locals
to
host
independence
here.
We
are
seeing
development,
schools
such
as
Mahetshe
Primary
and
Secondary
have
more
classrooms,
and
the
road
to
Bulawayo
is
improving.”
Monica
Nxumalo
said
the
influx
of
visitors
was
unprecedented.
“We
have
never
seen
this
kind
of
movement
before.
It
is
a
historic
moment,”
she
said.
“Our
children
are
learning
from
these
events,
seeing
how
parades
work.
Business
was
slow
when
people
were
eating
inside
the
stadium,
but
they
have
been
coming
to
buy.”
Others
highlighted
how
the
independence
event
had
opened
up
economic
space
for
small
businesses.
Ndabezinhle
Ncube
(55)
said
vendors
were
allowed
to
set
up
stalls
after
paying
licensing
fees
to
the
local
authority.
“We
paid
US$20
for
two
days,
17
and
18
April
to
the
council,
and
we
started
selling
yesterday,”
he
said.
“We
are
grateful
we
were
not
chased
away.
This
shows
that
Zimbabwe
has
people
who
are
working
for
themselves. Ilizwe
lakhiwa
ngabanikazi
balo (the
country
is
built
by
its
owners.”
Ncube
said
the
construction
of
the
‘stadium’
and
infrastructure
upgrades
would
leave
a
lasting
legacy
for
the
district.
“Now
we
will
be
able
to
watch
football
here
instead
of
travelling
to
Bulawayo
or
Harare,”
he
said.
“Having
many
people
here
has
already
brought
development.
Next
time
you
come
to
Maphisa,
it
will
be
even
bigger.”
Despite
the
optimism,
the
rains
earlier
in
the
day
disrupted
trade.
Patience
Mpofu
(35),
who
had
set
up
her
stall
the
previous
day,
said
the
weather
had
slowed
business.
“We
slept
here
to
prepare
for
today.
The
rains
affected
us,
but
we
still
have
hope,”
she
said.
“Once
it
stops,
people
will
come.
We
are
happy
the
celebrations
came
to
this
part
of
Zimbabwe
and
hope
that
the
festivities
continue
doing
so.”
For
some
vendors,
traditional
foods
proved
popular.
Sinini
Mguni
(47),
from
Mafuyane
in
Maphisa
said
her
amacimbi
(mopane
worms)
were
selling
well.
“This
is
my
fourth
pot
and
people
are
loving
them,”
she
said,
adding
that
locals
were
happy
to
have
a
stadium,
a
cultural
centre,
and
better
roads.
These
developments
will
help
us.”
Mguni
added
that
the
construction
of
a
vocational
training
centre
named
after
Joshua
Mqabuko
Nkomo,
constructed
in
St
Joseph’s
in
Matobo
District,
as
part
of
efforts
to
honour
the
late
Father
Zimbabwe,
would
benefit
local
youth.
“At
least
our
children
will
get
skills
and
opportunities.
It
is
good
to
see
such
projects,”
Mguni
said.
Another
vendor
from
Bulawayo,
who
declined
to
be
named,
said
she
arrived
on
Friday
and
had
been
battling
the
weather
while
selling
chips,
chicken
and
sausages.
“Business
has
been
affected
by
the
rain,
but
we
are
pushing,”
she
said
while
stirring
a
pot
of
isitshwala.
Beyond
commerce,
the
event
also
drew
football
fans,
particularly
supporters
of
Highlanders
FC,
who
travelled
from
Bulawayo
for
the
Independence
Cup
match
against
Scotland
FC.
However,
some
attendees
expressed
frustration
with
restrictions
imposed
by
security
personnel
inside
the
stadium,
where
movement
was
limited
once
people
entered,
especially
as
rain
continued
to
fall.
Meanwhile,
inside
the
main
venue,
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
paid
tribute
to
the
province’s
historical
significance
in
the
liberation
struggle.
“Matabeleland
South
Province
is
of
sacred
significance
in
Zimbabwe’s
history.
Many
areas
saw
brutal
protracted
and
indeed
defining
encounters,
such
as
the
Ratanyana
Battleground
and
war
monument,
where
ZPRA
liberation
war
fighters
fought
the
racist
Rhodesian
troops.
Along
with
Zezani,
Manama,
Minda
and
Thekwane
Missions,
these
zones
stand
as
haunting
and
yet
heroic
reminders
of
the
cruelty
suffered
by
our
people,”
he
said.
“The
landscapes
of
Matabeleland
South,
mission
halls
and
many
schools
tell
of
a
rich
past.
They
continue
to
be
symbols
of
unity,
pronouncing
to
present
and
future
generations
the
enduring
truth
that
the
struggle
for
Independence
was
executed
by
all
Zimbabweans,
who
transcended
ethnic
and
regional
lines.
Their
courage,
resilience
and
fortitude
saw
us
realise
the
Independence,
freedom
and
democracy
we
enjoy
today.
We
shall
forever
honour
and
salute
them.”
The
president
also
honoured
liberation
icons
from
the
province,
including
Joshua
Nkomo,
Alfred
Nikita
Mangena,
Lookout
Masuku
and
others,
describing
their
sacrifices
as
the
foundation
of
Zimbabwe’s
independence.
“
Matobo
and
other
Districts
in
Matabeleland
South
Province,
gave
birth
to
many
distinguished
sons
and
daughters
of
the
soil,
who
dedicated
their
entire
lives
to
the
liberation
and
Independence
of
Zimbabwe.
The
towering
Father
Zimbabwe,
uMdala
Wethu,
‘Chibwe
chitedza’
the
late
Vice
President,
Dr.
Joshua
Mqabuko
Nyongolo
Nkomo,
and
uMama-Mafuyane;
together
with
other
late
National
Heroes
such
as
Comrades;
Alfred
Nikita
Mangena;
Lookout
Masuku;
George
“TG”
Silundika;
Steven
Jeqe
Nkomo
and
Simon
Khaya
Moyo,
among
many
others,
hailed
from
this
Province,”
he
said.