Chamisa defies police rally ban

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, is going ahead with his rally scheduled for Kwekwe on Sunday, his first since he lost the July 30 plebiscite to President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF.

PPolice blocked opposition Chamisa's "thank you" campaign rally scheduled for Kwekwe this weekend, with the latter's supporters threatening to defy the ban.

Chamisa, who still insists he won the July 30 presidential poll against incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, had intended to go back to his supporters to thank them for "overwhelmingly voting him as president".

His supporters yesterday vowed to defy the police ban and proceed with the rally, arguing that they viewed the blockade as a clampdown on the country's democratic space.

In a written response to the MDC-T Kwekwe district chairperson Charles Madhihwa, Kwekwe police said the planned rally could not proceed because of a typhoid outbreak which has hit the nearby Midlands capital, Gweru.

"There has been a typhoid outbreak in the province.

Health officials are not allowing the public gathering," Kwekwe police boss Chief Superintendent Conrad Mubaiwa said.
Chamisa has lined up countrywide "thank you" rallies, where he will also use as platforms to get feedback from his supporters on the way forward following the alleged theft of his victory by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Zanu-PF, in favour of Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa has also lined up his own "thank you" rallies, expected to kick off when he returns from the Beijing summit on China-Africa Co-operation, which ends mid-next week.