MDC Star rally set for Feb 18 (08-02-07)

the issue, and widespread protests by civil society, impeccable sources within MDC told The Zimbabwean that a star rally to launch the campaign was scheduled for the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield on February 18.
It is understood the launch will precede a series of protest actions led by Tsvangirai himself.
“The president will lead a campaign to press for a new constitution as well as force Mugabe to abide by the current constitutional requirement to have elections next year and not in 2010,” said a senior MDC official.
Addressing a rally in Glen View recently, Tsvangirai told a crowd of about 10 000 to prepare for the launch and for action to force Mugabe into adopting constitutional reforms before holding elections next year.
“We want a million people to gather at the Zimbabwe Grounds soon. We have to unite as we did in 2000 and force this regime for adopt a new people’s constitution under which next year’s presidential elections will be held.”
Last weekend national chairman, Isaac Matongo, addressed huge crowds in Mufakose and Mabvuku and told the people to resist plans by the regime to extend the people’s suffering to 2010.
In Manicaland, Tsvangirai addressed two rallies at Zhawari and Gwirindindi business centres and urged all people, especially the youth, to register as voters to enable them to vote in next year’s poll.
In Chiredzi South, members of the liberation team led by national organising secretary Engineer Elias Mudzuri addressed several rallies to drum up support for Emmaculate Makondo, who is the party’s candidate in the by-election scheduled for February 17.