Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai was chased away by party youths at a rally in Lupane on Monday, that country’s Herald Online reports.
It quoted MDC sources on Tuesday as saying youths opposed to Tsvangirai’s boycott of Senate elections ”camped” at Somhlolo Stadium to stop their leader from speaking.
Apparently, no one else turned up for the rally.
”Tsvangirai was sent scurrying when a group of youths came rushing to his car, threatening to beat him up. He was parked by the garage near the main Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway to gauge the mood of the people of Lupane,” said an MDC member.
”But before he could do anything, youths came running from the stadium and wanted to beat him up. When he [Tsvangirai] saw them coming, he quickly jumped into his car and they sped away towards Bulawayo.”
Some of the youths were said to have followed his entourage up to St Luke’s to make sure that it did not return to Lupane.
”The message to him was loud and clear: he is not welcome here in Matabeleland with his anti-Senate views,” said a high-ranking member of the MDC.
Tsvangirai is on a tour of Matabeleland North to address party supporters and campaign for a boycott of the Senate polls scheduled for November 26.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, William Bango, said the MDC leader boss did not flee Lupane.
”There was no plan to address a rally in Lupane. The only rally was at Dete. After addressing that rally, he [Tsvangirai] left.” — Sapa