MANICALAND Province has stepped up preparations for the 21st Movement Celebrations to be graced by secretaries general of liberation movements from Sadc. The commemorations are held annually to celebrate President Mugabe's life. The main celebrations will be held at Sakubva Stadium on February 25 and 15 000 people are expected to attend.

Manicaland provincial chairman Cde Mike Madiro told national organising committee chairperson Cde Absolom Sikhosana on Thursday that the province was geared to host one of the best parties for the President.

"I am happy to announce that work is progressing well, with most of the ground covered. The main venue will be Sakubva Stadium and renovations are expected to be completed by February 15.

"This is not only meant for the 21st Movement Celebrations, but beyond the event. The Manicaland Provincial Governor's Office will help in spearheading the renovations because we want to leave a lasting memory."

Cde Madiro said the province received overwhelming support in the form of donations in cash and kind from well-wishers.

"We want to ensure that everyone is well fed during the celebrations. The response from the people of Manicaland is overwhelming. We now have 40 beasts and we are still appealing for more donations.

"We have also secured accommodation for the VVIPs and I can safely say we have covered 70 percent of the ground work.

"Manicaland is well known for its hospitality and we just want to show the world that we are among the best when it comes to hosting important events," he said.

Cde Madiro said unlike the previous events, they want to make this year's celebrations a bit unique by taking the visiting delegates to places of interest in Manicaland as well as the Chimoio Shrine in Mozambique.

"Manicaland has so many places of interest like the Bridal Veil Falls in Chimanimani, Hot Springs, Mtarazi Falls in Honde Valley and Ziwa Ruins in Nyanga where we want to take our VVIP delegates on tour.

"We do not want a situation where our visitors will come for a day and leave without seeing much in the province. How can they be our ambassadors if they come for a day?

"We are also planning to take them to the Chimoio Shrine in Mozambique for them to have a better understanding of Zimbabwe's history."

He said there were also plans for delegates to tour the Chiadzwa diamond mines.

"A lot has been said about Chiadzwa from armchair critics and it is important for our youth to have first hand information on this important economic sector," Cde Madiro said.

Zanu-PF secretary for youth affairs, Cde Sikhosana, said the youth should emulate President Mugabe's principles of patriotism and willing to sacrifice everything for the betterment of Zimbabweans.

"President Mugabe is a straightforward person who sacrificed a lot for this country. We hope young Zimbabweans will have a lot to learn from this great leader.

"We have never heard that President Mugabe has impregnated and dumped a woman or that he married in November."

Governor and Resident Minister Chris Mushohwe, chronicled President Mugabe's history from his youthful days.

He said President Mugabe's desire was to see an educated nation.

"A lot of people benefited from President Mugabe's education initiative when he converted some of his offices into classrooms in the early 1980s.

"This was done to help all those who dropped out of school to take up arms to liberate this country to catch up with their education."