ZANU PF activists allegedly pulled down all progressive party posters along the Airport Road and parts of the central business district along the route President Robert Mugabe used ahead of addressing a rally at White City Stadium.
Report by Blondie Ndebele
MDC’s Bulawayo East candidate David Coltart raised the alarm when he spotted the Zanu PF activists pulling down the posters and replacing them with those of Mugabe.
Coltart said the activists, mainly youths, were travelling in a white double cab vehicle, removing MDC campaign posters and replacing them with Mugabe’s.
“I got a report that Zanu PF youths were systematically pulling down our campaign posters along Airport Road,” he said.
“We reported the matter to Queens Park East police and they said they would investigate.”
The MDC secretary for legal affairs said they had also reported the matter to Sadc and African Union (AU) observer missions, who said they would also carry out their own investigations.
“I have reported the taking down of posters as well to honourable (Situmbeko) Musokotwane MP from Zambia, part of Sadc observers and asked they witness crimes,” he said.
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“This will be an interesting test of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Will they vigorously arrest and prosecute those systematically taking down MDC posters now?”
Coltart said, coincidentally, this came a few days after one of his campaign staff was “dehumanised” by the police after they accused him of pulling down a Zanu PF poster. About 40 people have been arrested for allegedly pulling down Zanu PF posters countrywide. However, the State is yet to prosecute anyone accused of taking down posters of the two MDC parties, although some incidents have been reported.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo yesterday said he was unaware of yesterday’s incident.
