MDC-T Supporters Arrested In Lupane
MDC-T supporters were arrested on their way to St Paul’s Business Centre were the Prime Mister, Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai, was scheduled to address a rally after touring a government project at St Paul’s Hospital were he was also barred from entering the gate by three law enforcement agents.
“I asked Mugabe why he is not retiring and go home to rest, but he told me openly that his party is in tatters with two factions one led by (Emerson) Mnangagwa and another by (Joyce) Mujuru fighting. But come elections I will defeat him, you can’t compare to that old man, I am young and raring to go,” said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai also said Zanu-PF knows very well that he is very popular among Zimbabweans that is the reason why they have criticize him day in day out in state media.
“Zanu (PF) knows that I am very popular among Zimbabweans and I will win any election, that’s the reason why they are working daily to tarnish my image. Now there are saying Tsvangirai love gays. I am not a gay myself but I won’t persecute gays because there were born like that.
“Instead of Zanu-PF dealing with bread and butter issue serious issues they now spend time talking about gays,” said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai also said: “Zimbabwe is rich in diamonds but Zanu-PF has been looting the country’s resources and people have remained poor”.
The rally which was initially banned by Matebeleland North police was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Thokozani Khupe and other senior MDC-T senior officials.
Magistrate Stephen Ndlovu of Hwange Magistrate Courts gave the MDC-T last time permission to go ahead with the rally.
Although the rally had a court green light several roadblocks had been set up by police all the way from Dete to Pashu business centre in Binga with police searching cars and asking many questions.
Tsvangirai is expected to hold another rally St Paul Mission today Saturday afternoon which was also given a go ahead by a Lupane Magistrate Tafadzwa Gwazemba yesterday.
Police in Matabeleland North have been preventing Tsvangirai from campaigning in the province since the run up to the June 27, 2008 presidential run-off poll. His armoured BMW campaign car was seized by police in the provincial capital, Lupane and has not been released.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Matabeleland North is now the most hostile province in the country as police have so far arrested or harass more than 40 politicians and human rights activists since January.