Zimbabwe’s 46th Independence Day celebrations, to be held on Saturday in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, are set to highlight the province’s cultural and linguistic diversity, described as central to the country’s identity and liberation history.
Political scientist Richard Mahomva said the province reflects Zimbabwe’s constitutional recognition of multiple languages and ethnic groups.
“Zimbabwe’s Constitution recognises 16 official languages, a reality clearly reflected in Matabeleland South, making the province a fitting host for this year’s commemorations. It is in Matabeleland South where you find the Tswana, the Sotho, the Nambya and the Kalanga,” he said.
“You also have the Ndebele and other ethnic groups. From that perspective, the demographic symbolism of Matabeleland South is reflected in the 16 constitutional languages.”
Mahomva stressed that this diversity is not incidental but mirrors the broader national fabric that contributed to Zimbabwe’s independence.
“It shows that Matabeleland South is rich in terms of the ethnic diversity of our country. In every district, there is someone who directly or indirectly contributed to the independence of this country,” he said.
He added that hosting national celebrations in such a region reinforces the inclusive nature of independence.
“This means independence must reach every inch of the country, just as every part of the country carries a footprint of the liberation struggle,” Mahomva said.
He noted that the province’s proximity to regional borders made it a strategic route during the liberation war.
“Matabeleland South was a corridor of liberation. This is where cadres moved through Botswana and beyond, and many were trained and mobilised from institutions within the province,” he said.
Mahomva also pointed to the spiritual significance of the area, particularly the Matobo Hills.
“This is where you find our national shrine, Njelele. It is a place where the ancestors sought spiritual guidance in the struggle against colonialism,” he said.
He said hosting Independence Day in such a diverse and historically significant province reinforces national unity.
“It reminds everyone, in every part of the country, that we are one. The independence we celebrate belongs to us all,” he said.