Top news items in major Zimbabwean media outlets

HARARE, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The following are the news highlights in Zimbabwe's major media outlets on Wednesday:

--Zimbabwe's National Sports Stadium in the capital Harare will host multitudes of Zimbabweans who will converge to commemorate the country's 38th anniversary of self-rule which analysts say is even more relevant under the new political dispensation. (The Herald)

--The Zimbabwe government has with immediate effect, fired all striking nurses after they refused to return to work even though the employer had acceded to their demands and availed 17 million U.S. dollars. (The Herald)

--Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Tuesday his government has set out a clear vision for youths to have decent jobs and benefit from broad-based empowerment initiatives that will move them out of poverty. (The Herald)

--Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government has been plunged into another crisis after the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Tuesday called for a general strike to protest against its "disregard" for workers.

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said the main labor body was mobilizing its stakeholders to support the general strike to show solidarity with government workers who are demanding better pay and improved working conditions. (The Daily News)

--President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Tuesday the country's fallen heroes, who for the past 37 years had been turning in their graves following the erosion of the liberation ethos, now had every reason to smile under the new political dispensation.

In a statement to mark the country's 38th independence celebrations Wednesday, Mnangagwa said the nation was commemorating its second Uhuru following former President Robert Mugabe's ouster last November. (NewsDay)

--The opposition MDC led by Welshman Ncube has described ZANU-PF presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa as a cut from the same cloth with former President Robert Mugabe, adding that voting him would be a perpetuation of "Mugabeism".

The party's spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said in its Independence Day message that ZANU-PF did not deserve re-election, after robbing the majority of the population of their right to dignity over the past 38 years. (NewsDay) Enditem