LIVE: Barcelona legends attend Mugabe rally in Gwanda

16:47 This brings to an end our live updates for today.

16:45 Matabeleland South provincial chairperson, Choeni gives vote of thanks and thanks President Mugabe for making it to the province.

"Matabeleland South is a sparsely populated province but we are proud of the work we put up to assemble such a big crowd," Choeni says.

16:35 President Mugabe has implored the Central Committee to continue guiding youths adding that since the First Lady is not around, he is going to brag to her about the goodness of the event.

He concludes his speech by encouraging unity among party members.

16:31 He says he has watched some of the Government ministers going to consult prophets in Nigeria and asks if there is a special bible used by those prophets. He says he watches and just says "hameno kwazvichasvitsana ikoko."

16:26 President Mugabe says he has heard people describing Donald Trump as insane, but to him, it doesn't matter because he defeated Hillary Clinton who hates Zimbabwe with a passion

16:10 "The West was not pleased with us being able to forge ahead in the face of sanctions. I wondered why he (Tony Blair) thought he is entitled to our country as if God gave him some dominion over Zimbabwe. He gave himself some supervisory role over us. Ah, who is he," President Mugabe asks and a member of the audience chants, he is a thief.

16:06 President Mugabe has thanked Zimbabweans for remaining resolute and defending the country against Western onslaught.

16:05 "These are the kind of leaders we need. The leaders who come up with their own programmes. We did not think up this for you. It is you who came to me and said we want to thank you for the way you executed your job as African Union and SADC chairperson"

16:02 Addressing Chipanga, President Mugabe says he has demonstrated that organs can be united.

"We thank you. We thank you very much. You have done what those who led the youth league before you failed to do"

16:01 President Mugabe says the success of the farming season is attributed to command agriculture and Presidential Inputs scheme adding that the party achieves more when people are united.

16:00 His Excellency says following the successful land reform program, MDC-T leader tried to instill fear among Zimbabweans by saying people will starve to death. Some laughed saying we have lost our bread basket status as a country.

"But do you see how much food we have this year?" He asks

15:48 He has encouraged people to break the tradition saying now the people have land. The conditions are not any better there, any longer.

"Let us stay here and work on our land," President Mugabe says.

15:46 President Mugabe says today he met the vice presidents, Mohadi, Damasane, Choeni and other provincial party leaders and implored them to keep the people together. He speaks of a long standing tradition which he noticed in 1945 when he was teaching at Empandeni Mission. The tradition was of going to South Africa.

15:43 President Mugabe says the liberation struggle was a struggle of leaders who did not accept disunity.

"Here we are, after all what happened, we are back together, we are united. We hope this will not come to an end.

1540: "I told Dumiso that this is the route others have decided to take. I don't know why Dumiso decided to do what he is doing, to leave some of us. We started this journey with him. What followed there was a split of Zapu leading to the formation of Zanu. This is one incident that we regret."

1538: President Mugabe says when the late VP Nkomo left the country with Chikerema and stayed there for a while, the late JZ Moyo approached him encouraging him to reconsider their position.

"We agreed with JZ and he told me he was going to leave first. He promised to make arrangements for me to follow. The following week, arrangements were made for me and my wife to leave Harare for Bulawayo, then Botswana. From Bulawayo, we were accompanied by Dumiso Dabengwa and the late Sikwili adding that DD, as Dabengwa is affectionately known, was still opposed to the idea."

15:31 "Chikerema was assertive in nature. He would assert himself in any grouping he found himself in. He would brag that he controlled Nkomo and as a result, he influenced him to form a government in exile. This idea was opposed by many including the youths led by Dumiso Dabengwa. The likes of Joseph Musika too were opposed to this idea."

15:28 He narrates the events just after the formation of Zapu adding that among the pioneers, there was his cousin, James Chikerema who was the spokesman of Zapu.

15:26 President has spoken glowingly of Zimbabwe's relations with South Africa adding that nomatter what others say or think of Jacob Zuma Zimbabwe continues to relate to him normally. President Mugabe says they started Zapu together with the late Vice President Nkomo, Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo.

"We worked so well together and used to get so much support from local business people."

15:20 Passionately, he says he hopes the late VP, Joshua Nkomo is resting in peace together with other departed Comrades. He has described the late Ndebele King, Mzilikazi as one of the pioneers of the struggle adding that even his remains are interred in the great area of Ematojeni.

15:16 "When I heard that our next meeting will be in Mat South, I thought of many things that connect me to this province. We held meetings with Umdala Wethu, from Kezi to Plumtree, Gwanda, Filabusi and Beitbridge."

15:15 "Our tears are still fresh. We miss him. We miss him today, we will miss him and we shall miss him forever. I hope you keep him in your prayers so that he continues to rest in peace."

President Mugabe has described Matabeleland South as a great province. He speaks of his strong connection with Matabeleland South.

"Is this not the province of Joshua Nkomo? The values he left us with are alive. We still carry on with them in pride."

Mugabe says he is still mourning the death of Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu whom he calls his father in law.

He says: "We are in a province that wehonour so much, the province that has Zanu PF party values. It has history also, is it not this province where [the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo] Umdala Wethu hailed from?"

To Zanu PF Matabeleland North Province, "We need you, we need you so much," he says.

President Mugabe says First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe has travelled to South Africa to have her foot examined after she was injured at the airport in a freak accident recently.

After salutations, President Mugabe thanks youths for organising the Presidential Youth Interface rallies.

Mugabe addresses the rally.

1502: Chipanga has invited President Mugabe to the podium. President Mugabe rises to deliver his speech to hit song "Mdara Achauya"

14:59 "It doesn't strengthen our resolve to fill up the stadiums yet thousands among us are not registered to vote. There is a new system of registration that we have embraced as a country. Therefore, everyone is expected to register as a voter."

14:58 Chipanga has implored youths to go and register to vote.

"Our challenge as youths is that we have a substantial number of youths who are not registered voters. Your victory is not in question President Mugabe. We are solidly behind your candidature and we are not going to support anyone besides you."

14:48 Youth League secretary Kudzayi Chipanga has just finished introducing the Politburo members in attendance.

14:47 Matabeleland South youth league chair Dingumuzi Phuthi thanks President Mugabe for listening to their grievances and making efforts to address them.

"As Matabeleland South, we are happy to host you for the second time this year after successfully hosting your birthday celebrations in Matobo earlier this year. We gather you were elated with the celebrations."

14:43 Chief Masuku welcomes President Mugabe and all the party membership to Gwanda. He implores them to feel at home.

14:53 - He says youths are prepared to contest in all political positions except for the post of President. He says they will contest for positions of councillors, MPs, adding that the only position that has a candidate already is that of President.

14:45 - Chipanga calls on youths to register for next year's elections, adding that President Mugabe and the ruling party, Zanu PF are going to win next year's elections. "Ma elections akatowhiniwa kare, zvakatonyorwa pasi nekudenga kuti Gushungo ndimi munowhina next year."

14:39 - Chipanga takes to the podium to address delegates.

1448: Youth League secretary Kudzai Chipanga has just finished introducing the Politburo members in attendance. Chipanga introduces Politburo members present and Ignatius Chombo chants the party's slogans. Chipanga asks Vice Presidents: Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa to great the gathering.

1447: Matabeleland South youth league chair Dingumuzi Phuthi thanks President Mugabe for listening to their grievances and making efforts to address them.

1443: Chief Masuku welcomes President Mugabe and all the party membership to Gwanda. He implores them to feel at home.

11:26 – Everyone is up for the singing of the National Anthem

Mugabe is arriving at Pelandaba Stadium and the crowd thunders in song. As the Presidential motorcade enters the venue, everyone at the stadium stands up to show respect to the party leader. He is now moving around the stadium in a ZRP Defender vehicle greeting an ecstatic crowd.

14:11 - After arrival, President Mugabe is moving around the stadium greeting thousands of party supporters aboard an open ZRP truck. With the trademark song: 'Jongwe Rinotonga Rimwechete,' sounding, Mugabe is actually waving the Zimbabwean flag in the company of Zanu PF Youth League leader, Kudzanayi Chipanga.

14:10 - You can also catch the proceedings live on ZBC TV.

14:09 - After commissioning the information centre, President Mugabe is now at Pelandaba Stadium for the rally.

14:11 Simon Khaya Moyo, Dzikamai Mavhaire, Christopher Mushowe and Sydney Sekeramayi are here too

14:05 The two VPs Mnangagwa and Mphoko have just arrived at Pelandaba Stadium here in Jahunda Suburb, Gwanda.

The VVIP tent is filling up. Zanu PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Ignatius Chombo, National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Secretary for Security in the Politburo Kembo Mohadi have taken their seats. Secretary for Finance in the Politburo, Obert Mpofu is here too.

The Ego has just landed at Gwanda Polytechnic College where he is expected to have a briefing with Matabeleland South party leadership.

1302 - The sound of helicopters hovering above Jahunda Suburb and subsequently Pelandaba Stadium elates the crowd gathered here waiting for the arrival of President Mugabe.

Some senior Government officials have arrived at the venue and already taken their seats. Those who have arrived include Mabel Chinomona, Jonathan Moyo, Abigail Damasane, Patrick Zhuwao, Dr Walter Mzembi, Eunice Sandi-Moyo and Joshua Malinga.

In the revolutionary spirit that has engulfed the province, liberation war songs by Light Machine Gun choir get people dancing along.

Thousands have come to hear the President speak.

As the crowd waits impatiently, the Zimbabwe Republic Police Band entertains them with Brenda Fassie's popular beats. Home to more than five ethnic groups, Matabeleland South is a culturally rich province.

10:20 - Thousands continue to throng Phelandaba Stadium and part of the crowd enjoys performances by various local artists

A carnival and electric atmosphere has already gripped the normally sleepy town of Gwanda ahead of the arrival of President Mugabe.

A train from Beitbridge, as well as trucks and buses have been shuttling people to Gwanda since the early hours of the morning and the stadium is expected to be overflowing by mid-day Outside Pelandaba stadium, jovial youths and Zanu PF supporters could be seen dancing and singing revolutionary songs as they await the arrival of their icon.

The President is expected to arrive at the ZRP headquarters ground around 11.am before he enters into a briefing with the Zanu PF Matabeleland South provincial leadership.

He will later officially open the Gwanda Community Information Centre before addressing thousands of party supporters at Pelandaba Stadium later in the day.

Youths in Matabeleland South expressed optimism that President Mugabe will look into the challenges facing youths in the province which include access to land as well as equipment and mining machinery.

The province has 5 gold mining districts.

09:15 - The rallies come in the wake of a bumper harvest recorded countrywide thanks to the Command Agriculture Programme.

09:12 - At other rallies, President Mugabe has urged young people to be self-enterprising as opposed to waiting for employment.

09:08 - The interface rallies are being organised by the Zanu PF Youth League with support from other party wings. They give youths an opportunity to interact with the President, as well as mobilise youths to register to vote for the 2018 elections.

09:02 – President Mugabe has already held rallies in Marondera (Mashonaland East), Mutare (Manicaland), Masvingo, Lupane (Matabeleland North) and Chinhoyi (Mashonaland West) provinces.

09:00 – President Robert Mugabe this afternoon meets youths at Pelendaba Stadium s in Gwanda in the sixth of his Presidential Youth Interface rallies.