Gokwe – Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations at Mutora growth point in Gokwe North have been met with outrage and disappointment, as a waterlogged stadium and crumbling infrastructure exposed what many believe to be a colossal waste of taxpayer money. The government could have sunk as much as US$10 million into the event on Friday, which quickly turned farcical amid a waterlogged ground and stadium infrastructure that crumbled before use.
Ahead of the national celebrations, the government had promised a massive revamp of infrastructure, including the Nembudziya open grounds. Local Government minister Daniel Garwe even announced on the eve of the celebrations that the government had built “a new, fully equipped, modern stadium where the main celebrations will be held.”
However, heavy rains on Friday revealed the poor workmanship at the stadium, leaving the pitch waterlogged due to a deficient drainage system. The bucket seats that were installed at the stadium were uprooted before the event was over. Parades by security forces were also marred by the waterlogged grounds, with videos circulating on social media showing the poor state of the pitch.
The highlight of the celebrations, a Premier Soccer League match between champions Simba Bhora and FC Platinum, was abandoned after just 15 minutes due to the unplayable surface. This has led to widespread questioning of how the millions of dollars allocated for the celebrations were utilised.
Zimbabweans have expressed their anger on social media, with many urging authorities to account for the funds spent on the projects. The government had also promised to regravel and surface major feeder roads to and from Mutora growth point, but this publication witnessed that this was not the case. Instead, there was a last-minute rush to rehabilitate some of the roads leading to the venue. Some Zanu PF officials were even seen complaining about the state of the roads, with some of their vehicles becoming stuck in the mud.
The government had also pledged to construct two ablution blocks and two students’ hostels at the venue of the children’s party, Nyamuroro High School. Officials also said an ablution block and two classroom blocks, a domestic science laboratory and a senior science laboratory would also be constructed at Nembudziya government High School, which hosted a gala on Friday night to celebrate Independence day. These projects, however, were not completed.
Locals have expressed their disappointment, feeling that Gokwe-Nembudziya has missed a golden opportunity for transformation and development. “It would not be surprising to hear that funds were stolen because there are still some unfinished projects,” said Tatenda Mugari, a villager. “Some classroom blocks at some schools are yet to be finished, but there are some areas where they have done well, for example on their pledge to sink boreholes.”
Despite the visible evidence to the contrary, Zanu PF Midlands province chairman Edson Chihengere claimed that all the promised projects were completed. He insisted that school blocks were completed and solarised boreholes were drilled. “Gokwe district is one of the most under-developed, but we want to thank President Emmerson Mnangagwa for drilling solarised boreholes for our people, schools were built with new blocks while several projects were undertaken,” he said.
Information minister Jenfan Muswere echoed this sentiment, stating that the government completed over 8 000 projects countrywide, including those in Gokwe. “We have now completed over 8 000 projects countrywide under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and including those you are seeing in Gokwe here in the Midlands province,” Muswere said.
The government had anticipated hosting 60,000 people during the celebrations, but attendance figures fell far short of this target, with less than a tenth of that number present.
In addition to the funds released by the Treasury, Zanu PF officials in the Midlands are alleged to have collected money from businesses in the province, claiming that it would be channelled towards the independence celebrations.
The controversy surrounding the Independence Day celebrations comes amid ongoing concerns about overpriced contracts being awarded to politically exposed individuals who fail to deliver despite being fully compensated. The companies that were awarded contracts for the Gokwe projects have not been disclosed, raising further questions about transparency and accountability.
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