Mugabe makes pitch for Bulawayo voters, repeats war threats

Mugabe makes pitch for Bulawayo voters, repeats war threats

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By Lindie Whiz

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's “star rally” in Bulawayo turned into a monumental flop on Friday when a paltry 2 000 people turned up at White City Stadium, exactly a week before he faces MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai in a crucial presidential election run-off.

Mugabe addressed relatively well-attended rallies in Matabeleland North and South on Wednesday and Thursday, and should have fancied his chances in Bulawayo, until he arrived at White City Stadium at 1445hrs to a tame applause from a largely disinterested crowd.

For the first time in many months, local public transport operators were supplied with diesel by the government at ridiculously low rates, and ordered to display Mugabe's posters and ferry people to the venue of the rally, but the trick failed to yield desired results.

Drivers were ordered to wear Mugabe's campaign T-Shirts, or else they would not get the cheap fuel, which sells for as low as less than US$0.01 a litre, against an open market price of US$2,50.

Dozens of 75-seater buses could be seen roaming the streets in the high density suburbs, looking for people intending to go the rally, but could not manage full loads.

Zanu PF militias and the police tried to make the crowd appear bigger by ordering people off the grand stands and onto the White City lawn. They prevented people irritated by Mugabe's late arrival from leaving the stadium.

Undeterred by the low attendance, Mugabe was the usual orator, sounding more of a history teacher than a presidential candidate. He lectured his supporters about the war of liberation, the Lancaster House talks, land invasions and the formation of the MDC.

Speaking mainly in Shona, Mugabe repeated his threat to go to war if Tsvangirai defeats him on Friday, and said his war veterans were ready for battle.

He attacked Tsvangirai saying he was a “school drop out" who did not deserve to president of a country like Zimbabwe.

"I am not even sure he passed Form Two (Junior Certificate)… a country like Zimbabwe to be led by a man like him? Chitototo! (the word refers to a leaf-eating grasshopper. A person called such is a good for nothing fellow who hops from one place to another, leaving problems (like chitototo makes holes on leaves) behind him),” Mugabe said to wild cheers from the crowd which included dozens of pro-Zanu PF college and university students from an association formed recently.

Mugabe said the June 27 run-off was a "history vote," and pleaded with the people of Bulawayo – who traditionally vote the opposition – to back him.

"This is a history vote. You dare not make a mistake. Don’t' vote against yourself. Siyekele ukuzibulala (let’s not kill ourselves)," he said.

Mugabe said a mark on the ballot could not defeat guns, repeating his threat of war if he lost.

"The X must follow the gun. Xs should not defeat guns," he charged.

Mugabe slammed Britain and her western allies as "damn liars" for saying there was no rule of law and democracy in Zimbabwe in a drive to mobilise international opinion against him.

Mugabe said he was only aware of a "few" cases of Zanu PF supporters whose homes and property had been burnt by MDC supporters, a charge the MDC denies. Instead, the MDC says at least 70 of its supporters have been killed by Mugabe’s shock troops since the March 29 general elections which failed to yield a clear winner between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, forcing a run-off.

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