News / National
Mujuru's Zanu - 'People First' not boycotting Independence day celebrations
12 Apr 2015 at 09:36hrs | Views
Rugare Gumbo, spokesperson of "People First" the group that counts former Vice-President Joice Mujuru as their leader yesterday said its leaders will take part in this year's Independence Day commemoration despite being elbowed out of Zanu-PF recently.
Gumbo said although they felt hard done by recent events, they still placed huge importance to the day.
He said when they attend the celebration they will be honouring the gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed for the independence of Zimbabwe.
"We may not like what is happening but we are not going there for personality issues. Independence celebration is a major event in the country," said Gumbo.
"More importantly, I think we still want to urge people to attend. What we are celebrating is not people or institutions, but we are celebrating the achievement of the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe such as Nikita Mangena, Josiah Tongogara, Herbert Chitepo and quite a number of people who fought for Zimbabwe."
Gumbo said there was a huge difference between the independence of 1980 and that of recent years, including that of 2015.
He said a lot had changed for the negative which should be corrected as soon as possible to save the country from "poor administration and corruption" by top government officials.
"In 1980 we were all united and independence was a new phenomenon and people were celebrating. There was excitement of a new country and the defeat of the oppression of the Rhodesian settlers," he said.
"Now people are divided for a number of reasons. We no longer have the same vision, the leadership that was dynamic then is now tired and clueless. The economy has been devastated; there is hunger and poverty, poor service delivery among others. This year's independence is going to be dismal," Gumbo said.
Gumbo said although they felt hard done by recent events, they still placed huge importance to the day.
He said when they attend the celebration they will be honouring the gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed for the independence of Zimbabwe.
"We may not like what is happening but we are not going there for personality issues. Independence celebration is a major event in the country," said Gumbo.
"More importantly, I think we still want to urge people to attend. What we are celebrating is not people or institutions, but we are celebrating the achievement of the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe such as Nikita Mangena, Josiah Tongogara, Herbert Chitepo and quite a number of people who fought for Zimbabwe."
Gumbo said there was a huge difference between the independence of 1980 and that of recent years, including that of 2015.
He said a lot had changed for the negative which should be corrected as soon as possible to save the country from "poor administration and corruption" by top government officials.
"In 1980 we were all united and independence was a new phenomenon and people were celebrating. There was excitement of a new country and the defeat of the oppression of the Rhodesian settlers," he said.
"Now people are divided for a number of reasons. We no longer have the same vision, the leadership that was dynamic then is now tired and clueless. The economy has been devastated; there is hunger and poverty, poor service delivery among others. This year's independence is going to be dismal," Gumbo said.
Source - standard
