The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reportedly forced all shops at Janet Shopping Centre in Ward 17 Bikita, Masvingo to shut down ahead of a visit to the area by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.
Villagers were also forced to go home blocking them from meeting Chamisa who is on a whirlwind tour of Masvingo province as he drums up support ahead of the 2023 national elections.
MDC-A deputy spokesperson Ostallos Siziba told NewZimbabwe.com that police had forced business operators at the business centre to close their shops. He added:
The People’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa continues on his provincial tour in Masvingo.
The president outmanoeuvred regime agents who tried to block his meetings in Bikita and Zaka.
He met community leaders, special interest groups, and citizens as he continues his interface.
We are here in Bikita in Masvingo province, the people’s project is all over. ZANU PF is afraid of the idea whose time has come.
ZANU PF has unleashed rowdy clowns, hungry moribund women, and unemployed young people to try and distract a meeting that never was.
Meanwhile, at one of his meetings, Chamisa told villagers he was confident he would defeat ZANU PF presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa “hands down” in the 2023 elections.
He added under his government, would ask people who looted state assets to return them as his administration had no appetite for retribution.