The Sunday News
THE ruling Zanu-PF party has lined up two star rallies in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces this weekend as it gears itself for victory in the 10 June by-elections.
Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko is expected to address the two rallies pencilled for 6 and 7 June in Bulawayo and Tsholotsho respectively.
The Bulawayo rally will be held at White City Stadium with the party’s provincial chairperson Alderman David Ndlovu saying preparations for the event were on course.
Ald Ndlovu said the party was confident to win all the five constituencies that are up for grabs in the province.
“Preparations are going on well. The rally will be addressed by VP Mphoko and today (yesterday) we held a preparatory meeting and what I can say is that we are all set.
“No boxer goes into a boxing ring expecting to be defeated. We are going into this election with the motive to win and we are confident of victory. Come June 10 we will romp to victory,” he said.
Five seats, namely Makokoba, Luveve, Pelandaba-Mpopoma, Pumula and Lobengula are up for grabs in Bulawayo. Cdes Tshinga Dube, Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo, Joseph Tshuma, Godfrey Malaba and Maidei Mpala will be representing the party in the five constituencies respectively.
After addressing the Bulawayo rally on Saturday, VP Mphoko will travel to Mbiriya Primary School in Tsholotsho North constituency to drum up support for the party’s candidate, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Professor Jonathan Moyo.
Prof Moyo will battle it out with Ms Gertrude Sibanda and Mr Busani Ncube who will both contest as independents despite having strong links with the opposition.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial commissar Cde Martin Khumalo said the province was ready to host the star rally. He said the entire province had channelled its efforts to regain the constituency, as politburo members together with central committee members were addressing rallies in the constituency drumming up support for Prof Jonathan Moyo.
“Preparations for the rally are going on well. Meetings are being held in various wards and as I am talking to you today (yesterday) Prof Jonathan Moyo and Dr Obert Mpofu were addressing meetings while the Minister of Arts, Sports and Culture Cde Andrew Langa hosted a sports tournament at Sipepa business centre,” said Cde Khumalo.
“All these meetings are meant to ensure the star rally will be well attended. On 5 June, all the campaign teams will meet and give feedback on what transpired during their campaigns and also make final preparations for the star rally.
“We are expecting thousands to attend the rally because people have realised that it is only Prof Moyo and Zanu-PF who can address their needs.”
Meanwhile, a group calling itself Bulawayo Citizens has urged Bulawayo residents to come out in large numbers for Vice-President Mphoko’s star rallies.
“Bulawayans, please come and meet your VP and hear the new vision and way forward for Bulawayo and Zimbabwe. We cannot continue to cry victim and sing the blame chorus. Come let us start a new page,” said chairman of the group, Mr William Mbizo Nyathi.
