The government could have sunk as much as US$10 million into the Independence Day celebrations on Friday, which turned farcical amid a waterlogged ground and stadium infrastructure that crumbled before use.
Ahead of the national celebrations at Mutora growth point, the government claimed that it had released funds for a massive revamp of infrastructure, including the Nembudziya open grounds.
On the eve of the celebrations, Local Government minister Daniel Garwe announced that the government had built “a new, fully equipped, modern stadium where the main celebrations will be held.”
However, on Friday the poor workmanship at the stadium was exposed following heavy rains that left the pitch waterlogged due to a poor 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 and videos circulated on social media about the poor state of the pitch.
A match between Premier Soccer League champions Simba Bhora and FC Platinum, which was billed as the highlight of the celebrations, only lasted 15 minutes because the surface at the waterlogged grounds was unplayable, raising questions about how the millions of dollars allocated for the celebrations were utilised.
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Zimbabweans were outraged by the images circulating on social media depicting the poor workmanship at the venue for the celebrations and have urged the authorities to account for the money spent on the projects.
The government had promised to re-gravel and surface major feeder roads to and from Mutora growth point, but that was not the case as this publication witnessed.
There was a last minute rush to rehabilitate some roads leading to the venue.
Some Zanu PF officials could be seen complaining about the state of roads while some had their vehicles 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 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 were not completed.
There were several inter-ministerial committee meetings held in Gokwe for several weeks ahead of the Independence celebrations.
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Owen Ncube posted videos on social media claiming that most of the projects had been completed and all was set for the Independence Day celebrations.
Locals were not amused and left disappointed as they felt that Gokwe-Nembudziya had missed an opportunity to transform and develop.
A villager Tatenda Mugari had mixed reactions over Independence preparations.
“It would not be surprising to hear that funds were stolen because there are still some unfinished projects,” Mugari told The Standard.
“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.”
Zanu PF Midlands province chairman Edson Chihengere claimed that all the promised projects were completed.
He said school blocks were completed and solarised boreholes were drilled despite evidence to the contrary.
“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 said 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 said it would host 60 000 people during the celebrations, but less than a tenth were in attendance.
Finance ministry Permanent secretary George Guvamatanga could not be reached for comment to confirm how much the Treasury released for the celebrations amid reports that several millions were sunk towards the preparatory works.
Garwe, whose ministry was overseeing the logistics and other infrastructure projects for the event, was also not reachable.
Besides the money released by the Treasury, Zanu PF officials in the Midlands collected money from businesses in the province that they claimed would be channelled towards independence celebrations.
Mnangagwa’s government has in the past come under the spotlight for dishing out overpriced contracts to politically exposed people, who do not deliver despite being paid in full.
The companies that were given contracts for the Gokwe projects have not been disclosed.
