Independence celebrations this year in Zimbabwe will have added significance as the country celebrates its silver jubilee and also the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party's victory in the just ended parliamentary election.

The ZANU-PF Secretary for Publicity, Nathan Shamuyarira, said on Thursday that preparations for the event were at an advanced stage and efforts were being made to ensure that the celebrations were historic.

"This year's celebrations are going to be extra special and impressive as they are two fold in that they mark 25 years of independence and ZANU-PF victory in last Thursday's parliamentary elections," he said.

He said Zimbabweans should realize that independence was an intrinsic achievement that needed to be jealously guarded.

Shamuyarira said young people needed to be educated on the importance of independence and the values it carries that benefit the nation.

On April 18, Zimbabwe celebrates 25 years of independence following a protracted struggle against colonialism.

This year's celebrations will coincide with ZANU-PF's victory in the just ended plebiscite where it won 78 of the 120 seats in parliament while the opposition Movement for Democratic Change took 41, and one going to former information minister Jonathan Moyo. The remaining 30 seats are appointed by President Robert Mugabe.