Nelson Chamisa (left) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa are frontrunners in the 2023 polls
Managing Editor
For the first time during this campaign period, ZANU PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) held two mega rallies on the same day.
While President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed his supporters in Zaka, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa finally launched his election campaign in Gweru.
Both claimed bumper crowds.
As early as 10am, pictures from Zaka circulated on social media, with proponents of the ruling party, claiming the crowd exceeded 100 000.
At that time, CCC supporters were still making their way to Mkoba stadium, about 300km west of Harare.
By midday, the party was claiming that thousands, had thronged Mkoba.
It is a battle of who pulled the bigger crowd.
If areal views of the ZANU PF, Zaka rally are anything to rely on, the party certainly pulled a bigger crowd, which according to state paper, The Herald was estimated at 124 000.
Although not many, aerial shots were taken of the CCC crowd, images on social media could suggest the party also attracted a huge crowd.
Top officials, from both sides traded jabs on Twitter, with ZANU PF insiders chiding CCC for failing to pull a bumper crowd at their much anticipated campaign launch.
CCC supporters accuse ZANU PF of bussing supporters from across the 10 provinces.
The opposition, prides itself in attracting organic crowds on the other hand.
It is about the optics, as the two main parties look to win the hearts of millions.
Before Sunday, the CCC had a torrid time on the campaign trail.
With several of its rallies banned, the Gweru campaign launch was expected to draw much excitement.
“All parties are free to campaign,” Mnangagwa told supporters in Zaka.
Insiders, could argue that the launch was successful while, judging by the Zaka crowd, ZANU PF can almost predict a big win on 23. August.
While the conversation about crowds could last the campaign period, knowing Zimbabweans and their penchant for numbers, the optics may not carry the day on polling.
Politicians should be thinking of turning the numbers into actual votes.
This article is part of The NewsReporLive’s Project Zivai (Get Informed) Free2Express programme supported by Magamba Network.
About Author
