LIVE BLOG: ZANU PF Star Rally – Mashonaland Central

President Mnangagwa is expected to address a star rally in Mashonaland Central province today

 

09.00 – Thousands of ZANU PF supporters have already gathered at the venue in Centenary, for the ruling party’s Mashonaland Central star rally

 

10.30 – ZANU PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and the ruling party’s National Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha are among the top dignitaries in attendance

 

10.38 – Vice President and ZANU PF Second Secretary Dr Constantino Chiwenga has arrived

 

10.38 – ZANU PF Second Secretary Cde Kembo Mohadi has also arrived at the venue

 

Sights and sounds from ZANU PF’s star rally in Centenary, Mashonaland Central

12.26 – ZANU PF National Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha takes to the podium to introduce the Presidium

 

12.38 – Cde Bimba invites ZANU PF returnee Cde Blessing Chebundo to the podium to do a slogan.

Cde Chebundo then invites returnees from the various opposition parties.

President Mnangagwa individually greets each of the returnees

 

12.46 – ZANU PF Mashonaland Central Provincial Chairperson, who is also Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe is now at the podium.

Cde Kazembe congratulates the First Lady for being honoured in the United Kingdom for her sterling philanthropic works, which are inspiring many across the globe

 

12.48 – Cde Kazembe said Mashonaland Central province will continue to vote for ZANU PF.

He said in 2018 the province voted resoundingly for President Mnangagwa, and they will ensure a landslide victory for the ruling party in the 2023 harmonised elections

 

13.13 – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga takes to the podium

 

13.19 – VP Chiwenga thanks the First Lady for accompanying President Mnangagwa to the star rally.

Dr Chiwenga says the First Lady hails from Mashonaland Central province and it is an honour to have her in attendance

 

13.23 – VP Chiwenga invites President Mnangagwa to address the ruling party’s supporters

 

13.26 – President Mnangagwa takes to the podium

 

13.30 – The President said Mashonaland Central is a ZANU PF stronghold

 

13.36 – President Mnangagwa says 762 projects have been completed in Mashonaland Central province, while four dams are also under construction

 

13.50 – He says there are some Western countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe hoping the populace would revolt against ZANU PF, but the sanctions have failed

 

13.53 – The President said in terms of agriculture, Zimbabwe is now food secure after the Second Republic put in place several measures in the agriculture sector, which have addressed food security at the household level, such as the Pfumvudza programme

 

14.04 – The President said in terms of the development of transport infrastructure, the Harare-Mahuhwe-Kanyemba road is under construction

He said Kanyemba is now being developed into a modern town

 

14.08 – President Mnangagwa said in 2018 the country was battling a power crisis, but the Second Republic engaged all-weather friend China, which availed support for the development of Hwange Units 7 and 8

He said China also assisted with the construction of the New Parliament, and upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, among other projects

 

14.19 – His Excellency says in the past people from various provinces would travel to Harare to get a passport, but the process has now been decentralised

 

14.20 – President Mnangagwa says Zimbabwe will be built by its own people (Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo)

 

14.22 – President Mnangagwa says the country wants peace before, during and after the harmonised elections. He said the law will take its course against those who promote violence

 

14.23 – The President said Government has acquired 80 state-of-the-art rigs, and solar-powered boreholes are being drilled in rural areas across the country

 

14.24 – President Mnangagwa invites the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka to unpack the agriculture programmes being spearheaded by Government.

Minister Masuka said President Mnangagwa has given every attendee fertiliser, seed, and 10 chicks for every woman, while every man will receive a goat

 

 14.30 – President Mnangagwa has concluded his address