The Sunday Mail
In the early hours of April 18, 1980, the first Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, lit the Eternal Flame of Independence to deafening cheers and ululations from thousands of Zimbabweans who thronged Harare’s Rufaro Stadium for the historic event.
Andrew Moyo – Sunday Mail Reporter
Symbolically, this flame burns pure, true and strong as long as Zimbabwe enjoys the freedom that was bought by the blood shed in the liberation struggle. Yesterday, as in all other years, Zimbabweans got to witness the lighting of the Eternal Flame – which draws its fire from torches lit at the Kopje – by President Mugabe as Zimbabwe celebrated 35 years of Independence.
The procession started at the highest point in the capital, Kopje – which is of great historical significance as this is where the settlers signalled their arrival by establishing Fort Salisbury more than 100 years ago – with some of Zimbabwe’s finest athletes igniting their torches from a cauldron similar to the one at the National Sports Stadium.
Clad in white T-shirts and gold track bottoms, Steven Muzhingi, Calvin Chimukoko and Olivia Chitate, carried the symbolic flame from Kopje.
Under police escort, they did their relay to the country’s largest stadium, with the rains unable to extinguish Zimbabwe’s Eternal Flame.
On entering the stadium, a torch was handed over to President Mugabe, who then lit the cauldron.
At Harare Kopje, the flame will burn for about a week and viewing will be open to the public.
