adminMehluli Sibanda Senior Reporter
EFFORTS by anti-Government agents to use the second cricket Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand which got underway at Queens Sport Club in Bulawayo yesterday to further their political agenda proved to be an enormous failure. Only a few people with the Zimbabwean flag started whistling as the five-day match went into the 36th over after the lunch break.
A handful in the terraces and grandstand mumbled through some jumbled up verses of the national anthem before all the excitement died down.
Two excitable fans were also seen running up and down the terraces carrying flags but that too did not last for that long.
From there cricket fans were able to watch their favourite sport without any further disturbances.
Pastor Evan Mawarire, the leader of #ThisFlag movement had posted an online video encouraging his followers to sing the national anthem during the 36th over of the match.
He was hoping to maximise on the presence of international television covering the match but the cameras never showed any of the goings on in the terraces and the commentators never made mention of it.
Earlier in the day, Women of Zimbabwe Arise members arrived at Queens singing. As cricket authorities struggled to deal with the situation, the police handled the situation by locking the gates situated along First Avenue and George Silundika Street so that the trouble causers could not get into the ground. The protesters were quickly cleared away by police on horses.
Hilariously, activist Mrs Jenni Williams gave those in charge manning the gate a tough time when she came with a $5 alleged “bond note” which she insisted she wanted to use to get into the stadium.
Seeing that she had failed to attract attention, Mrs Williams kept on insisting and was later bundled into a police van and taken away.
She posted on social networking site Twitter that she had been taken to Donnington Police Station where she was detained.
While Bulawayo spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said he could not comment since he was out of town attending a funeral, but police officers said 10 women were arrested at the cricket ground.
They said the women will be charged with criminal nuisance.
Twitter: @Mdawini_29
derick.khumalo