The Nelson Chamisa-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has assured its Matabeleland supporters of security ahead of tomorrow’s star rally slated for White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
This will be the first-ever rally in the region traditionally perceived as the opposition’s stronghold, by the newest political kid on the block, since it was formed in January a few days before the sitting of the Nomination Court.
Zimbabweans will on March 26 go for by-elections to fill in 28 vacancies in the National Assembly and over 100 in local authorities across the country.
Political parties, including the ruling ZANU-PF party, have since intensified their campaigns with rallies being held every weekend.
The CCC that ditched the MDC Alliance name after the Douglas Mwonzora-led political outfit claimed its sole ownership has held three star rallies in Harare, Gokwe and Kwekwe.
The Kwekwe rally was however disrupted by perceived ZANU-PF supporters who pelted the crowd with stones resulting in injuries and loss of life, something that has been condemned by analysts and civic society organisations.
CCC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Swithern Chirowodza urged party supporters to come in their numbers to the rally adding there was nothing to fear as their security was guaranteed.
“We have always done our best [on security],” Chirowodza told CITE.
“Remember a few years ago there was a man who was removed from the stadium for sabotage. The man wore military fatigue under his clothes. We also intercepted four men who tried to burn a bus outside White City Stadium on 2 September 2017. This speaks to the vigilance of our security, hence people will be very safe.”
He said the rally is expected to run from 11 am and finish at 4 pm.
“We are expecting a bigger rally than the one we had when we were MDC Alliance,” he said.
“The mood is far more electric than I have ever seen.”
Turning to the fake message that circulated on social media Thursday to the effect that the rally had been postponed, Chirowodza had this to say: “We encourage people to ignore the varakashi message. The Yellow Star Rally is on.”
