Southern Eye brings you live updates from Nzvimbo Secondary School in Chiweshe- some 80 kilometres from Harare- where President Robert Mugabe is addressing a Zanu PF rally this afternoon.
Updates by Cecilia Kamuputa, Tapiwa Zivira, Tinotenda Samukange
On the other side, Neuso, Mhondoro, Tsvangirai addresses a rally and expresses concern about Mugabe’s age and agility to run for another term in office.
I cannot avoid talking about Mugabe’s age. It is a serious national issue. The old man needs to rest because at 90 years he should be enjoying his pension. We can’t trust a 90-year old to run this country for another five years. I gave him four years to pack. Now it’s time for him to go and rest in Zvimba while an energetic, young and responsive government leads Zimbabwe into the future,” says Tsvangirai
14:14 Grace dishes out 10 000 kg of mealie-meal, 10 000 kg of sugar beans, 2 000 kg of salt, 560 boxes of cooking oil.
14:06 Grace Mugabe takes the podium.
14:05Mugabe end his address in amid applause.
13:57Mugabe thanks the party’s provincial leadership for organising the big rally and says noone was forced to attend
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13:48 Mugabe says MDC-T run Finance Ministry did not want to release money for polls. Says it is a lie that government does not have the funds for elections. He bemoans the fact that students under his South Africa university scholarships are not longer getting money from Treasury.
1:40 At Nzvimbo, Mugabe calls on people in Mash Central to go out in their numbers to vote, thanks people for coming out to the rally in their numbers. “We do not want to go back to the unity government,” he says, and labels the power sharing agreement a “Tsvuku kutatu” (three headed snake).
Meanwhile, at Neuso Business Centre in Mhondoro MDC-T general secretary Tendai Biti- who is accompanying party president Morgan Tsvangirai- is addressing a rally, “Supermarkets were closed, Zimdollar was worthless, hospitals had shut down and schools had been turned into terror bases but all that has changed. There is more to come once we get into government without the interference of ZANU PF”
31:27 Mugabe talks about the rising cases of murder and rape in Zimbabwe, calls for peace and prosperity.
1:20 Mugabe takes a dig at Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s earlier tour of Mashonaland,, ” I heard Tsvangirai was in Mash Central, does he not know this is Mbuya Nehanda’s province?”
13:10 Mugabe: We had the first of our star rallies here at Nzvimbo so that I could remind you of who you truly are and to remind you that a lot people died here during the struggle. 13:04 President R.G.Mugabe starts his address.
12:40 Mujuru takes the podium
12:25 Party National Commissar Shamu makes introductions. and calls on Mbare Chimurenga Choir to sing as he introduces Vice President Mujuru. 12:20 The traditional process of kupira midzimu, appeasing the spirits takes place. 12:15 National Anthem led by the Nzvimbo School Choir, followed by opening prayer to start the proceedings.
12:10 Mugabe and the first lady Grace go round the venue in a Ford pick up truck amid cheers from the ecstatic crowd.
12:05 President Mugabe arrives amid cheers from hundreds of his supporters.
11:50- President Mugabe is expected to arrived soon. 11:30 Members of ‘Church yekwaMicho’ (dreadlocked but clad in apostolic attire) move around the venue, carrying the Zimbabwean flag to ‘bless’ the place.
11:10 Mbeve Mbira Crew, Guruve Marimba Arts ensemble, Glendale Chimurenga and Bindura Chimurenga providing entertainment
10:55. Vice President Joice Mujuru arrives
10:50- As people continue coming in, Politburo member Jonathan Moyo and party national commissar Webster Shamu have arrived.
10:40 Truckloads of party supporters, clad in green and yellow Zanu PF regalia, are arriving at the school as preparations gradually warm up.
10:30- Southern Eye crew arrives and scores of people are milling around the school, waiting for the proceedings to start.
