Anti-Mugabe's protesters were not that many

Dear Editor,

Over the weekend two parties, Zanu PF and the MDC, kickstarted their election campaigns. We expected Simba Makoni to address us in Harare, but we never heard about him addressing people anywhere. Do you know what happened?

Also I think the reporting on Tsvangirai everywhere I have read seemed contradictory. Sources were saying 40 000 people attended the Sakubva rally, other said 60 000 and others. This is very confusing and does not do any good for the MDC - whose communications department seems not to work properly. There were also allegations of violence at Sakubva, which from my last visit, could not accommodate such numbers.

Why did the reports of violence not get reported in the so-called independent media? Why did you not report the violence?

I also think the Tsvangirai MDC should learn to publish 'delivered speeched' as opposed to 'prepared speeches'. The prepared speeches sometimes get twisted to suit the situation and the crowd; so we need to hear what exactly they said, as opposed to what is written down.

Also the report on SW Radio Africa's website that 1 200 people attended the demonstration in Musina is a blatant lie. Compare with these reports:

Hundreds of Zimbabweans have protested at the Beitbridge Border post where President Robert Mugabe is celebrating his 84th birthday. SABC

About 200 Zimbabwean exiles living in South Africa have staged a demonstration on the South African border to protest against President Robert Mugabe's 84th birthday celebrations. BBC 

Across the border, a few hundred Zimbabweans held a protest in the South African town of Musina. Herald Tribune

I'm sorry I would like to believe these sources not SW Radio and Sokwanele who are in the habit of 'lying with statistics' and exaggerating issues to suit their agendas.

Nyasha
Mabelreign, Harare