Preparations for next year’s national Independence Day celebrations set to be hosted in Maphisa, Matobo District, have gathered momentum, with local leaders expressing satisfaction over the progress being made so far.
Ward 19 councillor, Nqobizitha Ngwenya, (CCC) said he was impressed by the ongoing works at the site and commended the involvement of local people in the construction process.
“The arrangement which was done by the Matabeleland South Resident mnister, Albert Nguluvhe, is working and bearing fruits,” said Ngwenya.
“He invited the RDC and municipalities under Matabeleland South to contribute machinery towards the stadium project and set deadlines that by March it should be functional.”
Ngwenya said significant progress had been made on the ground, with heavy equipment now operating at the site.
“I recently visited the area and saw bulldozers, graders, tractors with chippers, an excavator and trucks offloading river sand,” he said.
“They were levelling the ground and drilling boreholes to provide water for workers and the community.
“Two boreholes have already been drilled and will be solarised to water the lawn once installation is complete.”
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He applauded the department of public works for engaging local residents to work on the project, saying the initiative has brought relief to many families.
“The department is doing a good job as they are recruiting local people to work there.
“So far, I can say they started on the right path and if they continue like this, everything will go well,” Ngwenya said.
Ngwenya, however, said most of the people employed at the site were struggling to make ends meet and appealed for food aid while they await government funding for the project.
“The workers complained that they are starving and not getting enough food,” he noted.
“They are appealing for help, the little that one may have while waiting for the budget from government.
“The money being used now comes from resources pooled by Matabeleland South to ensure work progresses.”
He also paid tribute to local businesses that have chipped in to support the project.
“We have business people who donated their equipment — Hawkflight donated a bulldozer, while Savemore donated 1 000 litres of diesel.
“We are grateful to everyone who is assisting us,” said Ngwenya.
The councillor expressed optimism that the preparations will continue smoothly and that Maphisa will deliver a successful national event, while cautioning against poor planning.
“We don’t want a similar situation like what happened in Gokwe to happen to us,” he said.
The government recently announced that Maphisa in Matabeleland South Province will host the 2026 Independence Day celebrations and the National Children’s Party, as part of the ongoing rotation of national commemorations across provinces.
The decision is expected to spur development in the district, with key infrastructure upgrades such as the rehabilitation of the Gwanda–Maphisa road, water projects and stadium construction already underway.
Ngwenya said the progress so far gives hope that Maphisa will be ready in time for the national event.
