A buoyant Thokozani Khupe, the acting head of the MDC, addressed a crowd of 20,000 in Zimbabwe’s second city of Bulawayo where she celebrated the strength and commitment of the people in ending Zanu (PF)’s parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980.
Khupe said Zimbabweans, many of whom blame the government for ruining the once-prosperous southern African state’s economy, were desperate for change.
She addressed the launch of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s run off campaign rally in the absence of the charismatic leader, who stayed his return to Zimbabwe last Saturday after receiving intelligence reports that the 18 military intelligence snipers had been assigned to assassinate him upon return.
The huge rally clearly showed the party’s strength and the 20,000 turnout was a big boost for the MDC.
“We decided to participate in the run-off to give the people of Zimbabwe a second chance to kick out the dictatorship,” Khupe told the cheering throng. “We have now declared a zero vote for Robert Mugabe. We need to give Mugabe a final blow. On June 27 we will be having a Zanu (PF) funeral. We are going to make sure we bury them so that they will not resurrect again.”
Khupe said the crumbling economy – Zimbabwe has the world’s highest inflation rate, at over 300,000 percent, rising unemployment and acute shortages of food, fuel and transport – had left Zimbabweans desperate.
Khupe, who insisted Tsvangirai won the first poll with an outright majority, demanded that the verification of votes cast be open to media and international observers, adding the MDC would reject attempts by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to skip this crucial process like they did before announcing the presidential election results.
An emotional MDC youth chairman Thamsanqa Mahlangu broke down as he lamented the death of 43 MDC supporters, including the recent murder of three MDC youth wing members, Beta Chokururama, Godfrey Kauzani and Ken Nyevhe.
Mahlangu slammed war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda and said he should be ashamed of himself for being used by Zanu (PF) to lead the murder of fellow Zimbabweans in Mashonaland yet he came from Matabeleland.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa rounded on the Zanu (PF) campaign team, and said it was ironic that Mugabe’s campaign was being led by Patrick Chinamasa and Chris Mutsvangwa, two officials that have been rejected by their own villagers in the parliamentary elections.
“Zanu (PF) is putting in the forefront of their campaign people who were rejected by their kith and kin, people who are unelectable,” Chamisa said to roaring applause. “It shows the bankruptcy of Zanu (PF)’s campaign. Kuita mbiri ye candle rinonzi rinopfuta sitereki apa ndiro rinonga richipera.”
Chamisa said the run off signified the burial of Mugabe.
“Panofa ishe haavigwi musi umwe chete. Ishe havafanani nepwere inovigwa musi umwe chete, panotomboita mavhiki. Saka run off ndiyo yava kupedzisa kuviga ishe,” Chamisa said to deafening applause.
Post published in: News