Victoria Falls (New Ziana) – The resort town of Victoria Falls was upgraded to City status on Wednesday, a milestone achievement which has seen it becoming the first City in Matabeleland North Province.
The City status conferment ceremony was presided over by President Emerson Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa also received the Freedom of the City in honour of his contribution to Victoria Falls’ growth into a city.
Freedom of the City is the highest honour bestowed by a council to a valuable member of the community or to a visiting dignitary.
Speaking at the event, President Mnangagwa urged the City fathers to vigorously pursue the City’s development agenda.
“Strong and enabling development control measures must be crafted and promoted to give impetus to the transformation of the city into a world class smart city bench-marked against the world’s best,” he said.
“I further urge the city council to ensure that the built up environment is appropriately planned in tandem with the framework of sustainable smart cities with the accompanying quality social services.”
President Mnangagwa said the government would continue supporting the City, in a bid to diversify its local economy.
“The tourism growth strategy, new Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, the Victoria Falls International airport and the overall potential of Matabeleland North Province are indeed a symbol of hope. Going forward, I exhort the City leadership and all stakeholders to utilise this new status to boost our national image towards growing the tourism sector and other ongoing national investment, trade and modernisation programmes,” he said.
Commenting on the conferment of Freedom of the City, President Mnangagwa said the honour was an important reminder of the country’s liberation war history.
President Mnangagwa was deported to Zambia through the Victoria Falls Bridge in 1972 after having been incarcerated by the Smith regime.
“The conferment goes beyond the recognition of my own personal contributions but is a dedication to the many living and departed heroes and heroines of our protracted liberation struggle for independence.
“Furthermore this recognition will serve to engender a symbiotic connection between the present generation and our rich liberation heritage, more so that it comes soon after the ground breaking ceremony for the Museum of African Liberation history and heritage,” he said.
“The honour for me personally symbolises my freedom from the arresting chains of the racist and oppressive colonial regime and subsequent deportation through Victoria Falls to Zambia. The fact that this conferment of freedom of the city has been accorded to me under the auspices of a local authority constituted by opposition council members attests to the unique character of the leadership of this council and the people of Victoria Falls. It is equally a testimony of the string inherent national spirit of unity among our people.”
New Ziana
