More than 2 000 youths in Mashonaland Central are set to benefit from a major housing empowerment programme when President Emmerson Mnangagwa launches the Munhumutapa Housing Scheme during Tuesday’s Munhumutapa Day commemorations in Mvurwi.
The celebrations are expected to attract more than 100 000 people, with preparations for the historic event now reportedly above 95 percent complete.
Roads leading into Mvurwi have been rehabilitated, while organisers have put in place transport, food and other logistical arrangements to accommodate the large crowds expected to attend the commemorations.
President Mnangagwa recently declared September 15 Munhumutapa Day and designated it a public holiday, providing Zimbabweans with an opportunity to commemorate the country’s pre-colonial heritage and learn more about the Mutapa civilisation.
ZANU PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe said the province was ready to host the national event.
“We have arranged everything; transport is ready and all logistics are sorted out,” he said.
People from all eight districts of the province that is Bindura, Mbire, Guruve, Mount Darwin, Rushinga, Shamva, Mazowe and Muzarabani are expected to attend, with a final inspection of the venue scheduled ahead of the commemorations.
The housing scheme will see young people allocated residential stands at three locations, with 59 hectares in Mvurwi, 100 hectares at Kimcourt in Centenary and another 100 hectares in Bindura set aside for the programme.
ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs John Paradza said the initiative demonstrated the Government’s commitment to youth empowerment and home ownership.
“The event will kick-start with President Mnangagwa launching a housing scheme specifically for the youth in Mashonaland Central province. We have 59 hectares of land in Mvurwi; 100ha at Kimcourt, Centenary; 100 hectares in Bindura,” he said.
The initiative forms part of broader youth empowerment programmes being implemented in areas including transport, mining, construction and housing.
Paradza said the housing programme, initially launched by President Mnangagwa in Masvingo three years ago, had since been rolled out across all 10 provinces, with most sites reportedly nearing 85 percent completion.
He said Munhumutapa Day was not merely a public holiday, but an opportunity for Zimbabweans, particularly young people, to reconnect with the country’s history and heritage.
“As Zimbabwe builds towards Vision 2030, understanding our past helps us appreciate the responsibility we have to build the future,” he said.
Paradza also thanked President Mnangagwa for responding positively to the Youth League’s request to have September 15 declared a public holiday, describing the decision as evidence of a listening leadership.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF Secretary for the Commissariat in the Youth League Tsungai Makumbe urged young people to attend the celebrations in large numbers while maintaining discipline.
“My main message to the youth is that they should turn out in large numbers to support the President and celebrate his birthday, but without forgetting to maintain discipline,” he said.
Ahead of the commemorations, Mvurwi hosted the Munhumutapa Half Marathon, which combined sport, health education, first aid training, medical outreach and community mobilisation.
Kazembe said the marathon also highlighted the need to protect young people from drug and substance abuse.
“Today’s event is not simply a marathon. It is a statement of purpose. It is a declaration that our communities will not surrender their young people to the scourge of drugs and substance abuse,” he said.
Organisers say the commemorations will therefore combine heritage, national identity and youth empowerment under the broader philosophy of “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”, emphasising the responsibility of Zimbabweans to build their own country.
