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15:39 The First Lady says President Mugabe did not visit empty handed but brought 10 000kgs of mealie meal, 10 000 kgs of sugar beans, 2000kgs of salt, 560 cases of cooking oil so people shouldn’t worry how the stuff will be distributed to them as she moves with a competent team who know what they do. With that she ends her address.

15:33 First Lady Grace Mugabe is thanks the crowd for coming in their numbers and asks them whether the people promise 100% of their vote will be for President Mugabe.

15:29 President Mugabe ends his address in Lupane were thousands converged.

15:20 President Mugabe said the late Cde Joshua Nkomo asked for “unity of the people of Zimbabwe of course the fact that land hadn’t come to the people so we should never ever go back. I’ve had the Lord’s blessing to live longer and I don’t want to go against the wishes of those are no-longer living,” he said.

15:12 President Mugabe says as soon as the party is voted into power they will finish building Lupane State University.

15:10 The President thanks the people for being resilient in difficult times. He said the people find ways to survive, the women especially.

14:59 President Mugabe says the British and Americans will never recognise a black man as an equal.

14:56 He said the call to delay elections by the MDCs has no basis because the people have suffered enough and the time has come to give a government that will right the wrongs done in the past five years.

14:54 President Mugabe says Zanu PF and the MDCs are poles apart because Zanu PF is people oriented but MDCs are selfish and only think of themselves.

14:49 He says polygamy is part of our culture but should be properly done.

14:48 He castigates bed hopping in apparent reference to Tsvangirai’s promiscuous escapades saying maybe that’s what they believe leaders should behave like.

14:43 The President says Bulawayo industries are going down but MDC-T’s Tendai Biti, who is the caretaker Finance Minister, did not explain how he used the US$500 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) from the IMF that was meant to resuscitate the industries.

14:34 President Mugabe said the party has moved together with the MDCs so the people are able to judge. “I don’t know whether in 2008 I deserved 43% and I don’t know whether I still deserve 43% and Morgan Tsvangirai 47%,” he said.

14:30 He explains how the West funded the formation of the MDC.

14:22 President Mugabe says the when the country attained independence blacks were now free to enroll and work were they wanted.

14:14 The President explains the road to national unity and freedom.

14:06 President Mugabe is now addressing the gathering.

13:57 Khaya Moyo takes a dig at Dumiso Dabengwa who says he pulled out of the Unity Accord signed by President Mugabe and late Mdala Wethu Joshua Nkomo. Waving the document Cde Khaya Moyo urges party supporters not to waver or believe the nonsense peddled by sell outs.

13:52 National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo is now addressing the rally.

13:40 Matabeleland North Governor and Resident Minister Thokozile Mathuthu is introducing the party leadership in Matabeleland who in turn are sloganeering.

13:27 President Mugabe was welcomed by wild cheers as he arrived at the venue. Now the National Anthem is being sung.

12:41 THOUSANDS of people have converged on Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane for President Mugabe’s first star rally in Matabeleland. People from the province’s seven districts continue to pour in as they eagerly await the President’s arrival.

The rally is crucial to the Presidential campaign as Zanu-PF managed to win only three out of 13 National Assembly seats in the 2008 election, in Bubi, Umguza and Nkayi North.

A fourth seat, Tsholotsho North was added when Professor Jonathan Moyo who won it as an independent candidate and later re-joined the party
The revolutionary party won only one senatorial seat in Bubi-Umguza.