BEITBRIDGE – “Elections free and fair or just hot air” read one side of the balloon. On the other, “Bob, you’ve had your cake, now beat it!”
These were the birthday messages floating high up for everyone to see as protestors gathered at the Beitbridge border post on Saturday.
While the demonstrators – bus-loads from South Africa, who were also joined by people crossing from Zimbabwe – danced and sang as the helium-filled blimp was raised 100 metres above the bridge.
President Robert Mugabe was holding his 84th birthday party and an election rally on the Zimbabwe side of the border – an event thought to have cost Z$3 trillion party. Mugabe saw the balloon but reportedly ordered his soldiers not to shoot it down, fearing this would create an armed incident with South Africa.
Post published in: News