News / Local
Bulawayo under lockdown for Mugabe gig
25 Feb 2017 at 00:29hrs | Views
Bulawayo and surrounding areas are virtually under lock down as security has been tightened to quash any anti-President Robert Mugabe protests planned ahead of his lavish 93rd birthday celebrations scheduled for today in Matobo.
Protest movement Tajamuka/Sesjikile spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi said the unusual security in Bulawayo would not deter them from demonstrating.
"We will not chicken out. We are determined to show our unhappiness with this senseless birthday tomorrow (today). Our message will be very clear though we are not disclosing too much for now," he is quoted saying.
About 100 000 people from all over the country are expected to attend.
Civil society groups accused the government and Zanu PF of abusing power and office by forcing schools to close and citizens to donate towards Mugabe's birthday celebrations.
"Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z), Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Tajamuka/Sesijikile and Zimbabwe National Students' Union collectively questioned the evident abuse of power and office to secure resources from schools and companies towards the 21st February Movement celebrations," they said in a statement.
However, Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs, Kudzi Chipanga scoffed off the criticism saying the youths attached so much importance to the birthday, as much as Christians do to Christmas celebrations.
"We value our President's birthday in a big way just like many Christians value the birth of Jesus Christ.
" We, in Zanu PF, value the birth of our President highly such that we cannot afford to see the day just passing, hence, we also want it to be declared a national holiday".
Protest movement Tajamuka/Sesjikile spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi said the unusual security in Bulawayo would not deter them from demonstrating.
"We will not chicken out. We are determined to show our unhappiness with this senseless birthday tomorrow (today). Our message will be very clear though we are not disclosing too much for now," he is quoted saying.
About 100 000 people from all over the country are expected to attend.
"Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z), Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Tajamuka/Sesijikile and Zimbabwe National Students' Union collectively questioned the evident abuse of power and office to secure resources from schools and companies towards the 21st February Movement celebrations," they said in a statement.
However, Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs, Kudzi Chipanga scoffed off the criticism saying the youths attached so much importance to the birthday, as much as Christians do to Christmas celebrations.
"We value our President's birthday in a big way just like many Christians value the birth of Jesus Christ.
" We, in Zanu PF, value the birth of our President highly such that we cannot afford to see the day just passing, hence, we also want it to be declared a national holiday".
Source - online
