|
'Vote Mugabe'
23/03/2008 19:07 - (SA)
Susan Njanji
Bulawayo - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe dismissed talk on Sunday of splits within his party as he made his first campaign appearance in the opposition stronghold of Bulawayo before elections next weekend.
Hundreds of flag-waving supporters thronged the central Stanley Square in support of the veteran ruler who is generally regarded with suspicion by residents of Zimbabwe's main southern city following widespread bloodshed in the region in the 1980s.
The 84-year-old used the rally to denounce former finance minister and presidential hopeful Simba Makoni, ridiculing suggestions that his candidacy highlighted divisions within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party.
"I say you are cheating yourselves," said Mugabe at the rally.
"The people have refused to be split. Today we have a job to do, to defend our birthright."
"We would want to see Bulawayo back to active political life. This is a city of heroes and heroes are known never to retreat."
Party youth brandished placards and banners while awaiting Mugabe's arrival for his first rally in Bulawayo, which is dominated by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
"Vote R G Mugabe for principled, consistent, fearless leadership," read one poster with a picture of Mugabe with a raised fist - the symbol of Zanu-PF.
"The land reforms will not be reopened", another poster said, referring to Mugabe's controversial seizures of white-owned farms.
'The people of Zimbabwe will rise as one'
Four trucks were parked at the venue loaded with bags of the staple cornmeal which was to be given to ruling party supporters at the rally.
Zimbabweans go to the polls to elect a president, lawmakers and councillors on Saturday in elections in which the 84-year-old Mugabe faces Makoni and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
At a rally in Harare on Sunday, Tsvangirai predicted victory over Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980.
"On Saturday the 29th of March the year 2008, the people of Zimbabwe will win a great victory," Tsvangirai told thousands of supporters at a stadium on the outskirts of the capital.
"We will witness the last gasp of the dictatorship come the 29th of March. And in April, you will inaugurate a new president. That president is a president who is a people's president," he said.
"That president will not take away your rights. He will not order attacks on his opponents. That president will not promote hate among Zimbabweans. We have walked a long walk towards a new Zimbabwe."
"The people of Zimbabwe will rise as one," he added. "We are going to make one statement to Zanu-PF and its oligarchy. We will stand for food, jobs and freedom."
The elections are taking place against a backdrop of economic crisis with inflation hovering over 100 000%, according to official figures, with basic foodstuffs such as cornmeal and cooking oil in short supply.
|
News
