What we witnessed last weekend, is a demonstration of power
Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
It was a Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath or day of rest and for some some of the Christian persuasion, also a Sabbath and a day of worship.
It was also the day the sprawling suburb of Epworth, fourteen kilometres from the CBD of the capital teemed with all hues of the flag as the ZANU PF juggernaut descended on the suburb.
The rally had been dubbed in political parlance as THE MOTHER OF ALL RALLIES.
It was the launch of the national by-elections campaign by the ruling ZANU PF party and was to be addressed by the President and First Secretary, Cde ED Mnangagwa.
As I and fellow scribes watched the human and mechanical avalanche turn the suburb yellow, red, black, green, white and other colours, I was reminded of the words if the writer of the first letter to the Corinthians in chapter 2 verse 4 where he says; “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
The mighty ZANU PF was indeed demonstrating its power.
Phrases like, “musangano wakasimba pama cell”( the Party is strong at cell level ), “hatitongi pa social media asi pa ground”( we do not rule social media but the ground ) and “yellow yagara ndeyedu”( yellow has always been our colour ) could be heard ringing out as the human snake moved along the roads towards the venue which was Epworth High School.
On getting there, this writer could only marvel at how the massive crowd was all going to fit in on those grounds, which are by any measure massive, but had been dwarfed by the demonstration of power by ZANU PF.
And what a responsive crowd it was! There were guests from across the country pf course with a bus displaying Cde Esau Mupfumi of Dangamvura-Chikanga Constituency in Mutare among others on display but this was all Harare at its best!
The candidate for the Epworth Constituency, Cde Zalerah Makari whom they call Musikana over there despite her being very married and her team had outdone themselves in mobilising.
It was indeed Epworth first, rest of Harare and then parts of Zimbabwe. After all, who wouldn’t want to be part of the Mother of All Rallies addressed by The Chief Ideologist?
The entertainment was not a disappointment at all. The Party had roped in Fantan and Levels among other Ghetto Youths.
The music was fabulous, the dances wild and ecstatic, the mood excellent! But that wasn’t what received the biggest cheer. The biggest cheer went to the song “Musangano wakasimba pama cell” by Chief Admire Shumba aka Cde Dhakota or Hwenje of the Chigaba Cheuchi fame.
And then Shumba Murambwi accompanied by the Vice President and Second Secretary Jena Chiwenga, arrived to the accompaniment of Kutonga Kwaro by the lanky singer from Uzimba Jah Prayzah and the euphoria reached sky-high.
Indeed musangano wakasimba pama cero and ZANU PF inotonga pa ground!
If you were not in Epworth, tough luck!
The President waved the characteristic fist salute and the cacophony in response was defeaning! I thought I had entered third heaven and the Holy trumpets were blowing!
Shumba Murambwi saluted, the Party faithful responded, he moved, and they moved with him, he danced and they danced with him!
The mood was at this point indescribable.
A scribe here and there forgot they were there to cover the event as they were caught up!
Well, who can blame them when the biggest newsmaker was in town!
When he addressed, touching on the plight of the residents of Epworth, the cheers reverberated far and wide.
He showed his political shrewdness by touching on the issues affecting Epworth, some which already are being addressed and others he charged the leadership of the area and province to look into immediately. Indeed, “Mudhara vanga vauya” and “Kutonga kwaro gamba” was visible.
Epworth will never be same and the rally will be the talk for days!
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