tawandamusarurwa
1045: We are at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe, where thousands of Zanu PF supporters have thronged to listen to their leader President Mnangagwa
Sights and sounds from the Presidential Star Rally in Kwekwe
1100: President Mnangagwa has arrived
1110: Zanu PF national political commissar Dr Mike Bimha takes to the podium and introduces dignitaries to the massive crowds
1116: Dr Bimha says there are 20 artistes who will be entertaining the bumper crowd here at Mbizo Stadium
1120: Zanu PF Midlands Provincial chairperson Larry Mavima takes to the podium
He says in Midlands Zanu PF is on solid footing and the people are satisfied with the work being done by Government
1125: Cde Mavima says Midlands continues to recognise President Mnangagwa as the sole Zanu PF candidate for the 2023 polls
1128: Cde Mavima says the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme has changed lives in Midlands
The province exceeded grain targets
Cde Mavima thanks President Mnangagwa for declaring the state of roads as a national disaster, as it has allowed for much needed repairs and rehabilitation works
1130: National political commissar Dr Bimha is now introducing candidates for the upcoming by-elections to the crowd
The candidates have been joined by prodigal sons and daughters who rejoined Zanu PF from the opposition
1146: Blessing Chebundo, speaking on behalf of returnees thanks political commissar Dr Bimha for teaching them the Zanu Pf ideology
He says he left opposition, because Zanu PF offers better development prospects
1206: Cde Bimha introduces young artistes, including DJ Fantan and Prophet Passion Java, who get an opportunity to greet the President
1214: Zanu PF national chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri takes to the podium
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri narrates Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga’s liberation war history
She introduces VP Dr Chiwenga
1223: VP Chiwenga takes to the podium
He says the President is set to give an update on his recent trip to Brussels, Belgium
Dr Chiwenga says President Mnangagwa has brought good news, not only for Kwekwe, but the rest of Zimbabwe
1234: VP Chiwenga said sanctions have inhibited the country’s growth and the sanctions were part of the discussions in Belgium
He says the mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” is a sanctions busting philosophy
He rallies on Zimbabweans to take charge of their country’s growth
1243: VP Chiwenga says President Mnangagwa’s wisdom helped the country navigate Covid-19; says he ran around raising resources, took some funds from the reserve to fund the vaccination programme
On CCC VP Chiwenga says “Kana inda ichitswanya nedombo, munoisa paruware mokuyakuya kana nhunzi inoshaya chokudya.”
1246: VP Chiwenga introduces President Mnangagwa
President Mnangagwa takes to the podium and is now addressing the massive crowds
He says Zanu PF is seeking to reclaim seats which were in the hands of opposition
“We started our campaign in Epworth, there was a crowd. I assumed that was limited to Harare only, but you have reminded me that Zanu Pf is everywhere”
1302: President Mnangagwa updates the gathering on his recent trip to Belgium
President Mnangagwa says one of the key outcomes of the engagement in Brussels was that African countries will begin to produce Covid-19 instead of importing them. African countries will start producing the vaccines in phases
1323: President Mnangagwa says the Pfumvudza programme has benefitted many households across the country
He says the Command Agriculture programme is now under CBZ Agro as a private sector initiative
1327: President Mnangagwa says the road rehabilitation programme is going well
The President says Zimbabwe is also working hard to tackle climate change, even though the West is largely to blame for climate change effects due to excessive use of coal
“We are progressing brick by brick. In Universities we have established industrial and innovation hubs
“Every State University, we are funding them to speahead innovation”
President Mnangagwa says despite being on sanctions Zimbabwe has done well in its Covid-19 vaccination programme
“We are now producing medical oxygen in Mutare, producing 50 metric tonnes per day”
He says Government is pushing to establish factories in rural communities, for example the recently established agro-processing factory in Mutoko
“We have another one in Masvingo, we have established an amarula plant there”
1340: President Mnangagwa says the Second Republic has created 10 extra seats in Parliament for the youths.
He added that the Second Republic is doing the same at local authority level, where every Council should have 30 percent seats for women
The Midlands Province is set to get $4,9 billion in devolution funds, says the President
1349: President Mnangagwa says in Mvuma, in the Manhize area, Zimbabwe has over US$1 billion worth of reserves of iron ore and the country is establishing a steel producer there, which will employ over 6 000 people
1353: “In the tourism sector we also have a robust programme. We have tasked the tourism minister to establish a US$5 billion tourism economy in the next three years
“We are doing all this with our own resources. We are doing it from our pockets as the Second Republic
The President says Zimbabwe is on an engagement and re-engagement drive
“Zimbabwe seeks positive relations with all countries. But we can’t do anything about those countries that chose to be our enemies.”
1358: President Mnangagwa reminds the crowds that Covid-19 is still in our midst
He calls for a resounding Zanu PF victory in the upcoming by-elections.
1403: President Mnangagwa concludes his remarks
Online Reporter