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6 March 2022
Vimbayi Mahachi
Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thousands of Citizens Coalition for Change supporters thronged the White City Stadium to listen to their caretaker President Nelson Chamisa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crowd that braved the scorching sun was about 5000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) was conducting a rally to drum up support for CCC candidates for the 26th March by-elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crowd screamed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Chamisa! Chamisa! Chamisa!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of his speech Chamisa said he is appalled by the state of Bulawayo City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Kings was the hub of industrial activity in the country. All that is no more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now the roads are in a sorry state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Imigwaqo iyesabisa, ukudla akula, isitshwala akula, imali akula, amasalaries akula, umsebenzini (umsebenzi) akula, President welizwe (crowd responded\u2026 akula!!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We used to have all the things we needed here in Bulawayo” He reminded the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained that he used to come all the way from Masvingo to buy affordable clothing in Bulawayo because the industry was vibrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“UBulawayo omuhle has been destroyed”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He expressed disappointment at the destruction at industries such as cattle Ranching, the National Railways and other manufacturing industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We need change in Zimbabwe, sifuna inguquko Zimbabwe,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Sidinga ukuthula Zimbabwe, sidinga ukuhlonitshwa eZimbabwe, sidinga inkululeko eZimbabwe, sidinga injabulo, lentokozo eZimbabwe, sidinga amathuba empumelelo Zimbabwe\u2026sidinga inkululeko kakhulu masinyane. Sizanqoba ndawonye!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We seek peace, respect, happiness, development, freedom in Zimbabwe. Together we will conquer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even political violence is escalating around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He applauded Vice President Chiwenga for denouncing violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Sifuna ukubambana, sifuna ukuthula, sifuna ukuba sihambe ndawonye eZimbabwe.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He shared the fact that even people in the rural areas now want change even in Gokwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the reason there was such huge crowds in Gokwe and Kwekwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are the new kid in the block,” emphasized Chamisa who said his party is starting afresh on a new clean slate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The whole process will be citizens driven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n