Massive attendance at MDC rallies (21-06-07)

8217;s joint presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Mucheke crowd dwarfed the approximately 2,000 force-marched to listen to senior Zanu (PF) leaders the previous week, and the excitement in the air was palpable as the masses swayed and chanted, sensing victory.
“The MDC will definitely win the forthcoming election. That’s our promise to you,” deputy leader Thokozane Khupe said to a thunderous applause.
Looking down on the crowd was half of Mugabe’s face on a huge but dilapidated billboard. It was soon draped with an MDC banner.
The MDC team, dubbed the Liberation Team, included spokesman Nelson Chamisa, deputy secretary general Tapiwa Mashakada, youth chair Thamsanqa Mahlangu and several provincial leaders. MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai was in Europe with other leaders of the Save Zimbabwe Alliance.
In Mutare, the rally was interrupted three times when MDC supporters clashed with Zanu (PF). Opposition officials claimed a group of Zanu (PF) stalwarts were attacking and attempting to abduct MDC supporters on their way to the rally. The Zimbabwean witnessed an MDC supporter’s T-shirt being ripped to shreds in a scuffle with ruling party thugs before police with dogs rescued him.
Political violence throughout this southern African nation has resulted in at least five deaths of opposition supporters since March 11. Hundreds of others have been viciously beaten and tortured.
Khupe said that after an MDC election victory, the party would set up a national commission to probe the violence.
As supporters waved huge cut-outs of an outspread hand – the MDC greeting – Khupe declared: “We are here to drum up support for free and fair elections and to try and achieve a credible and legitimate electoral process by way of minimum conditions: a new constitution, the right to vote for millions in the Diaspora, an independent electoral management body, fundamental freedoms restored, and the election campaign to be demilitarized.”