6 March 2022
Vimbayi Mahachi
Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
Thousands of Citizens Coalition for Change supporters thronged the White City Stadium to listen to their caretaker President Nelson Chamisa.
The crowd that braved the scorching sun was about 5000 people.
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) was conducting a rally to drum up support for CCC candidates for the 26th March by-elections.
Having been welcomed by a rapturous singing, screaming, ululating and whistling crowds with vuvuzelas Chamisa took to the podium clad in what seems to be his yellow suit at rallies.
The crowd screamed,
“Chamisa! Chamisa! Chamisa!”
Part of his speech Chamisa said he is appalled by the state of Bulawayo City.
The City of Kings was the hub of industrial activity in the country. All that is no more.
Now the roads are in a sorry state.
“Imigwaqo iyesabisa, ukudla akula, isitshwala akula, imali akula, amasalaries akula, umsebenzini (umsebenzi) akula, President welizwe (crowd responded… akula!!).
The roads are in a sorry state, there is no food, there is no money, the salaries are useless and the Head of State is missing
He told the cheering supporters that his heart bleeds each time he visits Bulawayo because of the absolute economic collapse of a once industrial capital.
“We used to have all the things we needed here in Bulawayo” He reminded the crowd.
He explained that he used to come all the way from Masvingo to buy affordable clothing in Bulawayo because the industry was vibrant.
“UBulawayo omuhle has been destroyed”
He expressed disappointment at the destruction at industries such as cattle Ranching, the National Railways and other manufacturing industries.
“We need change in Zimbabwe, sifuna inguquko Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Sidinga ukuthula Zimbabwe, sidinga ukuhlonitshwa eZimbabwe, sidinga inkululeko eZimbabwe, sidinga injabulo, lentokozo eZimbabwe, sidinga amathuba empumelelo Zimbabwe…sidinga inkululeko kakhulu masinyane. Sizanqoba ndawonye!”
We seek peace, respect, happiness, development, freedom in Zimbabwe. Together we will conquer
He expressed concern at the escalating prices in supermarkets, citizens who cannot afford hospital fees, the same hospitals have no medicines, pensioners are broke as well as rampant corruption.
Even political violence is escalating around the country.
He applauded Vice President Chiwenga for denouncing violence.
“Sifuna ukubambana, sifuna ukuthula, sifuna ukuba sihambe ndawonye eZimbabwe.”
He shared the fact that even people in the rural areas now want change even in Gokwe.
It is the reason there was such huge crowds in Gokwe and Kwekwe.
“We are the new kid in the block,” emphasized Chamisa who said his party is starting afresh on a new clean slate.
There are no new MPs, no councilors, the party is starting afresh. There will be a road map to determine the way forward for the change for the people of Zimbabwe.
“We have buried the red party. It’s a new start, it’s a new beginning. We want huge numbers we want big numbers. We want to repeat what was done in Zambia”.
The whole process will be citizens driven.
Amongst other issues on his agenda, Chamisa, ended by introducing his party’s candidates for Members of Parliament and Councilors for 26th March By-elections.
Zim GBC News