President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rally was yesterday marred
by violence after ruling party youths and soldiers tried to stop people from
streaming out of the venue before the Zanu PF leader finished his address.
Soldiers and national service youths, known as “Green
Bombers”, had a torrid time trying to control the restless crowd at Bindura’s
Chipadze Stadium as scores of people started leaving when Mnangagwa was midway
through his speech.
Some of the youths armed with logs tried to stop the people
but were eventually overpowered.
Several people were reportedly injured in the melee as they
fled the marauding youths and soldiers.
Videos of Border Gezi youths and armed soldiers trying in
vain to chase down fleeing masses back to the venue as Mnangagwa addressed the
crowd have since gone viral.
Several people were beaten up as they ran away from the
rally.
On Friday, the Zanu PF leadership was left seething with
anger after restless supporters walked out on Mnangagwa at a rally in
Mapfungautsi Primary School in Gokwe South.
Zanu PF candidate for Gokwe-Mapfungautsi and politburo
member, Victor Matemadanda, sought to blame truck drivers competing to beat
passenger targets for the walkout on Mnangagwa.
“As the President was addressing the people, some truck
drivers started to spread messages that they were leaving the rally,” the war
veterans leader was quoted as having said in a state-owned daily yesterday.
“Some of these people were coming from faraway places like
Chitekete and when they heard that transport was leaving they stood up.”
In his speech, Mnangagwa yesterday made a U-turn on white
commercial farmers saying they would not get their farms back.
Mnangagwa said those who wanted their repossessed land must
go back to their countries of origin.
“The new
dispensation will not return land to the whites, no, no!,” he said amid thunderous applause
from Zanu PF supporters.
“We have united people through this land. If you want you
can get into a ship and go back to your country and parcel land there.”
Zimbabwe embarked on
a chaotic land redistribution programme at the turn of the millennium following
growing protests by disgruntled war veterans who claimed white farmers were
funding the opposition.
Former president Robert Mugabe presided over the violent
seizure of farms owned by white Zimbabweans.
After taking over from Mugabe following a coup in November
last year, Mnangagwa had appeared open for the return of the displaced farmers
after declaring that all Zimbabweans who needed land would get it.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa said Zanu PF was on course to record a
massive electoral victory on July 30.
He promised to
reward traditional leaders with more vehicles soon after the elections.
“When we ushered in the new dispensation we summoned all
chiefs in Midlands and gave them cars while informing them of the new
government,” he said.
“After 30 July when we are in power all the 289 chiefs will
have brand new cars.”
He said Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and Zanu PF chairperson
Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri were still recovering from the injuries they sustained
after an explosion at Bulawayo’s White City Stadium during a Zanu PF rally.
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