The UCAZ centenary celebrations which were launched on 29 April 2023 in Bulawayo ended on a high note as the curtain came down with the final event held in Mutare on 30 June with an awards dinner attended by more than three hundred participants. Participants included mayors, councillors, town clerks, senior council officials and representatives of the corporate sector.

During the awards dinner, held in the evening at the Golden Peacock Villa Hotel, Mayor of Harare, His worship Clr Jacob Mafume and Kwekwe Mayor, Her Worship Clr Future Titora presented UCAZ founding members with special recognition certificates while every member council received a specially designed plaque. The founding members are Bindura Municipality, cities of Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, Kadoma, Mutare and Masvingo. UCAZ was established in 1923 as a loose forum where municipalities used to meet to discuss matters of common concern.

Earlier in the day there was a march from Mutare’s Central Police Station, down Main Street, made a right turn into C Avenue ending at the Mutare Hall. Mayors, councillors, town clerks, senior council officials and representatives of industry and commerce participated in the march.

The city of Mutare mustered its ambulance and rescue service personnel and their equipment, health and refuse collection personnel. Zimbabwe National Army’s 3 Infantry Brigade Brass Band and Drum Majorettes from Dangamvura Primary School spiced the march provided music and performance.

Speaking at the end of the march at Mutare Hall, UCAZ President Clr Abel Matsika thanked the City of Mutare, the Zimbabwe National Army, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, mayors, councillors, town clerks, senior council officials and representatives of the corporate sector for making the march an enormous success. He invited them to the awards dinner.

Chairperson of the Centenary Celebrations Organising Committee (CCOC), His Worship Clr Solomon Mguni who is also the Mayor of Bulawayo and member of the UCAZ Presidium thanked the UCAZ President and the Presidential Committee for the confidence that they had showed him by appointing him to chair the CCOC.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the President of UCAZ Clr Abel Matsika and the entire Presidential Committee for the confidence reposed in me to chair the UCAZ @100 Organising Committee. Special congratulations go to the Organising Committee members for delivering on this onerous task of making the celebrations held in the city of Mutare on 30 June 2023 , a resounding success,” said Mayor Mguni.

Mayor Mguni added that the task could not have been possible without the unwavering support from Mayors and Chairpersons “of our thirty-two urban local authorities. He added that the Town Clerks and Secretaries played a pivotal role in ensuring that the celebrations become a reality.

Clr Mguni also thanked councillors for the endorsement of the celebrations and management and staff of local authorities for dedicating their time and expertise towards the noble cause.

The City of Bulawayo Mayor also saluted UCAZ partners in the corporate sector.

“We take pride in the power of partnerships that has seen us working together to keep the dream that started in Bulawayo in 1923, alive,” he said.

He also honoured the founding members of UCAZ.

“We honour the pioneering spirit of Bulawayo, Harare, Kadoma, Bindura, Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru who planted the seed that has bow become a 100-year-old tree. Indeed, their pioneering spirit leaves on. The spirit of resilience and excellence in local governance lives, one hundred years on. We are proud to stand on the shoulders of giants, whose pioneering spirit we will continue water with our sweat to ensure sustainable service delivery in our lifetime,” said Mayor Mguni.

He hoped that the next one hundred years would be better that the first one.

Mayor Mguni noted that 2023 is an election year and said that he and his colleagues were proud to leave offices after witnessing such a milestone in the history of UCAZ.

“We bow out of the stewardship of UCAZ as a proud generation of leaders that witnessed such a milestone in the history of the Association,” he said.