GOVERNMENT has sent an SOS to the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to donate five beasts, mealie-meal and 200 litres of cooking oil towards the independence celebrations that will be held in Maphisa, Matabeleland South province, this year.
This year’s main Independence Day celebrations will be held in Maphisa, a district that bore the brunt of the 1980s Gukurahundi massacre.
According to the latest council minutes, town clerk Christopher Dube updated city fathers about government’s request for donations towards the 46th independence celebrations.
“The town clerk reported on December 12, 2025 that he is in receipt of the following correspondence dated (December 4, 2025) from the secretary for Local Government and Public Works John Bhasera requesting donations towards the 46th independence celebrations preparatory work in Maphisa, Matabeleland South province, on April 18, 2026,” the minutes read.
The letter from Basera read: “The ministry urgently requests donations from your city council, specifically for carrying out preparatory work at the said site. We request five beasts, two to three tonnes mealie-meal and 200 litres cooking oil.
“In addition to enhancing council’s relationship with central government, contributing to the preparations for the 46th independence celebrations will allow council to play a vital role in the success of this important national event.
“As a recognised leader in governance within the Matabeleland region, agreeing to this request would serve as a positive example for other local authorities in the area.”
During discussions, Bulawayo mayor David Coltart raised concern on the slow progress in rehabilitating the Maphisa road and sought clarification on whether it will be completed in time for the independence celebrations.
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In response, the town clerk expressed confidence.
“It was, therefore, resolved to recommend that the request from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for donations towards the preparatory work for the 46th independence celebrations be acceded to,” the minutes read.
Gukurahundi victims and critics expressed outrage over government's decision to hold the celebrations in Maphisa, where there are mass graves of the victims of the 1980s massacre.
Mthwakazi Republic Party leader Mqondisi Moyo described the move as shameful.
“What the Zanu PF regime intends to stage in Maphisa, a small administrative and commercial centre in Matobo district, barely a few kilometres from Bhalagwe/Antelope Mine, the worst mass-killing site in post-colonial southern Africa, is nothing short of a national shame,” Moyo told Southern Eye.
“Maphisa is not a carnival ground. Bhalagwe is not a dance floor. It is a shrine of unburied souls.
“It is a place crying for solemnity, for cleansing, for truth not a shameful show of power and mockery. Bhalagwe needs cleansing, not celebration.”
Ibhetshu LikaZulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo expressed similar sentiments.
“It will be outsiders in Matopo celebrating the day when locals are scattered all over looking for either safety away from the government or running away from economic marginalisation,” Fuzwayo said.
“An evil government will never allow its citizens to enjoy their freedom, especially a government that is not promoting equality among citizens.
“Locals are denied to mourn or remember their people who were forcibly disappeared (sic). Even memorial plaques are destroyed because they want to erase the memory.”
Nkayi Community Parliament speaker Nkosilathi Ncube said government should use the occasion to apologise to Gukurahundi victims.
“Zanu PF must allow affected people to honour the dead,” he said.
