Scores duped to a Mugabe no show 'rally'

Hundreds of people from various districts of Matabeleland South were 'duped' to go to Mzimuni Village, Gwanda North after being told President Robert Mugabe would be there.

ZANU PF supporters came to the area to witness the commissioning of a computer laboratory at Mzimuni High School on Friday.

Most of the people who attended the event which was presided over by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda claim that they were told that Mugabe would be there.

Some people confessed to have come from as far afield as Mangwe and Bulilima districts to see the President.

Some locals claimed to have walked over 20 kms for the event after being made to believe the president would be there.

One Mthokozisi Moyo from near by Shake village claimed that he tried to convince his friends that the president will not be in the area after he had heard him speak from New York on Voice of America's Studio 7 the previous evening.

"I tried to tell my friends that the president was in New York and will not be in Gwanda but one of the mobilisers told us that it takes 8 hours to fly from New York to Harare and a few minutes by helicopter from Harare to Gwanda," said a disappointed Moyo.

President Mugabe was in New York for the United Nations General Council and is expected back in the country on Saturday.