Mercedes Sayagues
Rufaro stadium erupted in a deafening cheer when opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Gibson Sibanda arrived at the Movement for Democratic Change’s (MDC) final campaign rally in Harare last Sunday.
In an impressive show of strength, the MDC filled up 80% of the 40 000-seat stadium, where the trade union-based party was launched last September. The mood was carnival-like.
When the 30-member executive lined up on the stage, there was only one with a tie. Most of the men had T-shirts, caps and hats; the women wore simple dresses and skirts. They looked like ordinary Zimbabweans, without money and time to spend on extras in these days of hardship.
Said Tsvangirai: ”We will not accept to be divided along racial lines. We will bring back the rule of law. We will not have a government made up of ”chefs” and poor people … Robert Mugabe’s small elite has betrayed the national struggle.”
Looming over the stadium was an old billboard praising ”the committed leadership of Robert Mugabe”. Youths dismantled chunks – Mugabe’s face lost a cheek.
Rufaro stadium is where Mugabe assumed power in 1980. ”On these grounds we gave Robert Mugabe the mandate 20 years ago. On these grounds we tell him now to go,” said Tsvangirai. At this, the crowd raised thousands of red cards. ”Red card, Mugabe!” they shouted.
As people walked out, they waved red cards. Five blocks down, the MDC T-shirts and red cards had disappeared. No need to provoke an attack.