'Ghost' caretaker locks out MDC meeting


By Lance Guma
08 August 2005

A campaign meeting by the MDC to drum up support for the Mayoral elections was abandoned on Sunday when an unknown man locked the hall before the meeting, claiming to be the caretaker. The meeting scheduled for the Montgomery Hall in Kingsdale, Bulawayo had lined up party spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi, Mayor Japhet Ndabeni Ncube and National Executive member Eddie Cross as key note speakers. A large number of party supporters from the suburbs of Mahatsula, Woodville, Kingsdale, Saucerstown, Queens Park East and West who had converged on the community hall went away disappointed.

Shortly before the meeting began the man claiming to be the caretaker locked up the hall saying he did not know anything about the rally. This was not withstanding the fact the community hall is for use by residents of Kingsdale who are the ultimate custodians. Although the meeting was cancelled as a result, it turns out the so-called caretaker does not have authority over the building whatsoever. Sources say he had simply been sent to sabotage the meeting by senior ruling party members. Countless opposition meetings and rallies have in the past been disrupted by police riot squads, acting in cahoots with Zanu PF to frustrate MDC activities.