Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa to grace Independence Day fete

The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is expected to grace Independence Day celebrations next week on Tuesday in Sironko district,  Esther Mbayo, the minister for presidency, has said.

Mbayo said Mnangagwa will attend the 57^th Independence Day celebrations as a special guest of the country.

President Mnangagwa and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni share a toast during a dinner at the State House in Harare in April. File Photo

"President Yoweri Museveni will be the chief guest who has also invited another special guest Emmerson Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe," Mbayo told journalists on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre.

In August 2018, Mnangagwa replaced Robert Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe. Mugabe passed on last month.

Organised under the theme, Consolidation of National Unity, Security, Freedom and Prosperity, Mbayo said, the government has selected Sironko district to host the celebration due to the towering role that Bugisu region continues to play towards the consolidation of the achievements of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Esther Mbayo, the minister for presidency, addresses a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday morning. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

"Why Sironko? Bugisu sub-region and indeed Eastern Uganda has achieved tremendous progress and this provides an opportunity to showcase this progress to the nation and finally as a token of appreciation to the people of Bugisu for their contribution to national development over the years including the participation of many people from this region in the struggle for independence and during the resistance days," she said.