The Sunday Mail
PRESIDENT Mugabe left for Malawi this Saturday for the country’s 50th independence celebrations set for Lilongwe this Sunday. Vice President Mujuru is the Acting President.
President Mugabe was seen off at Harare International Airport by VP Joice Mujuru, Senior Minister Simon Khaya Moyo and Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, and was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.
Malawi is a former British colony which gained independence in 1964 after the collapse of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. It marks its independence on July 6 every year.
Several Heads of State and Government from SADC and beyond are expected to attend the Golden Jubilee Celebrations.
Reports from Malawi say the celebrations will start with an interdenominational worship service at the Bingu International Conference Centre in the morning before they shift to Civo Stadium later in the day.
There will be lighting of a torch marking what Malawi Vice President Saulosi Klaus Chilima termed “the start of another 50 year journey and beyond”.
A friendly soccer match between Malawi and Mozambique has also been lined up as part of the celebrations.
The celebrations come a month after new Malawi President, Professor Peter Mutharika took the oath of office after he won the May 20 elections. The Democratic Progressive Party leader has pledged to implement projects that were initiated by the previous government. President Mutharika is on record promising to put in place new systems and structures that promote good governance and transform the economy.
