Mujuru descends on Manicaland

TENSION is high in Mutare ahead of Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader Joice Mujuru's Manicaland star rally set for Sakubva Stadium today amid reports that Zanu-PF was intimidating people against attending the event.

ZimPF national spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said the party was aware of messages being circulated on social media by "desperate Zanu-PF regime and its state security agents purporting to dissuade our supporters from converging Sakubva Stadium tomorrow (today) for the star rally with Joice Mujuru.''

"This is certainly a desperate measure by a dying regime which is trying to put all stops to ensure that our rally flops. We urge you to ignore the message, but celebrate in the knowledge that ZimPF has grown in support and popularity to an extent the regime is having sleepless nights," he said.

The rally came as police in Mutare on Thursday arrested a ZimPF activist Clemence Marabada for reportedly undermining the authority of President Robert Mugabe.

ZimPF lawyer Simon Simango of Nyikadzino, Simango and Associates said Marabada, who is currently in police custody, exchanged harsh words with a Zanu-PF political commissar in Sakubva, while he was distributing fliers publicising today's rally.

Simango said a heated argument ensued between Marabada and the Zanu-PF member and the accused is reported to have said: "Who is Mugabe and what is Zanu-PF?''

The accused's lawyer said it was not a criminal offence even if he admitted to saying the words.