…as they claim that stadium has no toilets
Melinda Kusemachibi
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in Masvingo has alleged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) last week denied them access to use Mucheke Stadium for the provincial star rally which had been scheduled for February 12 ahead of March 26 by-election.
CCC organizing team led by Masvingo district chairperson Martin Mureri confirmed the development saying the rally had to be re-scheduled after failure to get the green light to go ahead.
“Yes l can confirm that we were denied police clearance from the policing authority as we wanted to hold the rally on Saturday (February 12).
“Now we are not yet clear on when the next rally will be held,” said Mureri.
CCC Masvingo took to their official Twitter page to express their frustration over failure to get approval.
“We are having challenges to find approval from police and city of Masvingo to go ahead with our official by-election launch in Masvingo urban. The police are saying the stadium does not have toilets but after showing them quotations of toilet facilities, they say council must approve,” read the tweet.
CCC Masvingo provincial chairperson Misheck Marava however said failure to approve the rally is one of the delaying tactics by law enforcement meant to derail progress.
“Oh yes there is too much use of denial and delaying tactics which affect us negatively as CCC,” said Marava.
Recently, Zanu-PF and MDC-Alliance held their star rallies in Epworth and Zororo grounds in Highfields respectively on February 12, 2022 to launch their campaigns for March 26 by-elections.
The issue of Mucheke stadium not having functional toilet facilities may be a surprise as the facility is being used by Division 1 teams Masvingo United and Wangu Mazodze football clubs.
However contacted for comment, Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he is not aware of such an issue.
“I am not aware of that issue,” said Dhewa.
Political Analyst Doctor Davison Mugodzwa predicted that despite having challenges with campaigning, the CCC will win the elections since people want to vote for the party of the moment.
“The issue of economy which is not going so well will lead people to vote for a party that offers better views, hence people will use their anger to vote. CCC will win because of its popularity and responses it offer to the electorate as compared to Mwonzora who is just a puppet.
“Masvingo was a strong hold for Zanu-PF but because of the divisions in the party, it is now no longer a strong hold of the party. In Masvingo province CCC is now dominant even in the rural areas, so basically it will win the forthcoming by-elections,” said Dr Mugodzwa.
Masvingo is the boiling pot political party activities in the country, as any party that wants to win the elections be it intra or inter would fight tooth and nail to control it. Zanu PF held its first political campaign in Masvingo at Njovo on World Wetlands day on February 2.
Masvingo province will have nine local authority by-elections and two House Assembly seats on March 26.
Masvingo Urban has four vacant wards, with two each in Chiredzi and Chivi and one in Bikita.
For national assembly, there is Chivi South and Mwenezi East.
