Grace Mugabe takes meet the people tour to Gwanda

FIRST Lady Grace Mugabe will on Monday hold a rally in Gwanda as part of her "Meet the People" tour.

The Zanu-PF provincial leadership has called on supporters to come in their thousands to meet her.

She will also hold rallies in Lupane on Tuesday, and Bulawayo on Wednesday.

The Bulawayo rally will be held at Amazulu Sports Club, while the Lupane rally will be held at Somhlolo Stadium.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman Andrew Langa yesterday said the Gwanda rally was initially set for Filabusi in Insiza district but was later moved to Pelandaba Stadium as Gwanda district was a central location.

He said the Gwanda rally would start at 9AM.

"In terms of the road networks, it was decided that Gwanda would be a suitable location because it is central. We call upon all people to come in their thousands to give the First Lady a big welcome. We want it to be similar to the welcome we gave the First Family at the same venue in the run-up to last year's elections," said Langa.

"This is an opportunity for the people of Matabeleland South to come and listen to the First Lady and hear the message that she has brought us."

Langa also congratulated the party for clinching council seats in Matobo and Mangwe in by-elections held recently.

"We want to congratulate the councillors for their victory. This is testimony that Zanu-PF is the party of choice and come 2018, we're going to sweep all constituencies and seats in the local authorities," he said.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North chairperson Richard Moyo said they held a preparatory meeting yesterday ahead of the First Lady's rally at Somhlolo Stadium on Tuesday.

"The rally will start at 10AM and we're calling on all people of Matabeleland North to come to Somhlolo Stadium in their numbers. Ten buses have been hired to ferry people to the venue," said Moyo.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial secretary for information and publicity, Rebecca Manjere, said: "Our slogan is 'Omama ku Amai' (Women to Mother) and we're happy that the First Lady is coming to address us. We're also happy about her nomination for the Women's League secretary post. She will listen to our plight because she's a loving mother," she said.

"She's already looking after orphans and widows, showing that she has such a big heart. We're confident that she'll serve our interests as women and that our grievances will be heard."

Mugabe is set to assume leadership of the Women's League after the party's congress in December. She is holding rallies in all the country's 10 provinces as she prepares to assume the reins - her first political assignment.

She has already held rallies in Chinhoyi, Harare, Gweru and Masvingo. Yesterday, she made a stop in Mutare.