Makoni fumes as police disrupt rally

Makoni fumes as police disrupt rally

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By Torby Chimhashu

ZIMBABWEAN police abruptly called time on a campaign rally for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni on Sunday, and turned away buses ferrying supporters to the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, a working class surburb of Harare.

Riot police in eight trucks closed off Willowvale Road, a major highway leading into the south western suburbs and ordered buses coming from the city centre to return passengers to their pick-up points.

Despite the heavy police presence and intimidation, some 7 000 cheering supporters turned up -- many on foot -- to hear the former finance minister speak, a day after he kicked off his campaign in the second largest city of Bulawayo, an opposition stronghold.

The weekend rallies cemented Makoni's growing stock as a front runner in the presidential race as notable political figures lined up to back his candidature. In Bulawayo, Makoni captured the support of former Home Affairs Minister Dumiso Dabengwa, former Speaker of Parliament Cyril Ndebele and former Zapu leader, Joshua Mhambi. In Harare, Makoni stood alongside liberation war hero Edgar Tekere (also former leader of ZUM), former MP and leader of the Zimbabwe Union of Democracts Margaret Dongo, former Education Minister Fay Chung, Zanu Ndonga leader, Wilson Khumbula, Zimbabwe Liberators' Platform founder, Dzinashe Machingura, and former Manicaland prosecutor, Levison Chikafu.

Makoni, in his address, also noted the support of Arthur Mutamnbara, the leader of a faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"I would like to thank all of you who managed to walk to this venue despite intimidation and threats by police," Makoni said in his keynote address. "Most of our supporters were turned away by the police but you have shown faith and bravery by walking to this venue.

"We would like to remove fear from our lives. We cannot continue to fear the police, army and the CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation)."

Police had earlier on Friday threatened to bar Makoni from holding his maiden rally in Harare, arguing that it would be a counter attraction to a Champions League preliminary tie between Dynamos and Royal Leopards of Swaziland at Gwanzura Stadium.

However, it later gave the former Zanu PF politiburo member the nod to go ahead, but altered the rally time from afternoon to 11am.

When the rally was in full swing, two truck loads of armed police officers circled around the crowd before one burly police officer went up to the podium where he pointed to his watch and told Makoni to cut his address.

This incensed the crowd that responded by booing and making catcalls at the police.

Former Zanu PF secretary and Mugabe lieutenant, Edgar Tekere, told the crowd that he would personally lead Makoni's campaign “to make sure that Mugabe goes for good".

Said the infuriated Tekere: "This man (Mugabe) must go. I will make sure I sweat and spend my time leading this campaign against him. I unequivocally state that Mugabe has failed us and continues to use the police to frustrate people. This time he will go for good."

Zimbabweans vote in general elections on March 29, and political observers say Mugabe could face his toughest challenge yet as he goes head to head with his former finance minister and opposition MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai and Makoni are both promising swift economic recovery for the country. Mugabe has labelled the two prostitutes and witches.
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