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Chronicle Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe has said Zimbabweans should disregard MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s attacks on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and the African Union (AU) and get ready for Wednesday’s elections.Speaking at a Zanu-PF star rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday, the President said the MDC-T leader’s criticisms of the electoral body were unwarranted and accused Mr Tsvangirai, who is facing defeat in Wednesday’s poll, of employing dirty tactics meant to undermine the election outcome.

Mr Tsvangirai on Friday criticised AU chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, accusing her of siding with Zanu-PF in endorsing the preparations for the elections.

Dr Dlamini-Zuma, who was in the country on a pre-election assessment exercise, dismissed MDC-T’s vote rigging claims saying there was no such evidence to prove the allegations.

President Mugabe said MDC-T was trying to build up an excuse to justify its imminent defeat in the 31 July election. “We are aware that some groups within that party (MDC-T) were tasked to employ tactics to undermine the election process, raise objections along the way and cry foul at the end to say that the election process was not free and fair.

“They are also claiming that soldiers are forcing people to attend our meetings. But people know their rights. Mamanikidzwa kuuya pano here? (Were you forced to come here?),” the President Mugabe asked the big crowd, to a thunderous “No!”

The President mocked Mr Tsvangirai’s utterances that he was going to announce the election results himself. “I hear that Mr Tsvangirai says he will announce the election results. Who are you? Which political leader has done that anywhere?

“The law is clear that the responsibility of announcing election results lies with Zec. Even us Zanu-PF we follow that. Even I, the President say we must obey the law,” said the President.

President Mugabe said the electorate should be wary of voting for parties such as the MDC, who were formed by the country’s former colonisers.
He said Zanu-PF was different from the MDC in that it was revolutionary party that is driven by the desire to liberate and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and empower the masses.

“We are entitled to be masters of our own destiny and the economy. That is why we waged the struggle. To Tsvangirai the enemy is VaMugabe. They do not talk about the enemy of the people.

“With us the enemy is colonialism and sanctions. Zimbabwe must remain free and never be a colony again,” said President Mugabe.
“If you love your country and your freedom you will vote for Zanu-PF and know that this other party (MDC-T) is not your party at all. MDC was created made by the British to undermine the government of Zanu-PF. They did not tell you that.”

He urged Zimbabweans to vote wisely in Wednesday’s elections by supporting revolutionary leaders who hold the keys to a brighter future.