Just after 2pm, a heavy downpour disrupted MDC-T Secretary General Tendai Biti’s speech that was supposed to set the stage for the party President, Morgan Tsvangirai, who was billed for the keynote address.
The rains lasted close to 90 minutes and party officials decided to postpone the launch.
Zimbabwe goes to a referendum on 16 March to vote on the draft constitution that the three main parties—MDC-T, Zanu (PF) and MDC-N—have already endorsed.
During his speech, Biti described the proposed establishment of provincial councils as the largest factors why Zimbabweans should support the draft.
“Gone will be the days when all things will be decided in Harare. The provincial councils which will be made up of 10 people (in each
province) led by a chairperson will ensure devolution of power, itself a stepping stone towards economic development in the provinces,” he said.
Biti, who is also the Finance Minister in the Government of National Unity set up in 2009, urged Zimbabweans to rally behind the proposed new constitution for positive political change.
Jameson Tsuro, the Midlands South MDC-T spokesperson said the huge turnout for the launch was testimony of people’s enthusiasm to endorse the draft.
“The people braved the rains because they wanted to show their support for the new constitution. They also wanted to hear from PM Tsvangirai how the future is going to be shaped,” he said.
Last week the party’s National Chairman and Speaker of Parliament, Lovemore Moyo, formally presented the document to the people of Zvishavane district in the same province pending the provincial launch.
It was not immediately clear when the “Yes Vote” launch would be consummated in the Midlands province.
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