By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa takes his 2018 election campaign to Matabeleland this weekend with a schedule set for Gwanda and Bulawayo on Friday and Saturday.

Mnangagwa has previously called off at the last minute three visits to Gwanda where he was poisoned while attending a ZANU PF rally under then President Mugabe.

Mnangagwa is expected to handover about 600 heifers and cows sourced under the Command Livestock Programme to farmers at the Gwanda show grounds, before addressing a rally at Phelandaba Stadium in the provincial capital Friday.

Matabeleland South Minister of State, Abednico Ncube said preparations are at an advanced stage with all the seven administrative districts working around the clock to ensure that all the requisite resources are mobilised.

“We are very excited as Matabeleland South to host the Head of State and Government in Gwanda this Friday. We expect President Mnagagwa to address party supporters as we head for elections, as well as to hand over livestock to beneficiaries of the Command Livestock Programme,” he said.

“Like any other province, we will live to expectations, Phelandaba Stadium will definitely be filled to capacity as many people are excited to see the President and hear what he has to say. We expect no less than 30 000 people to attend this event,” said ZANU PF Matabeleland South chairman Rapelang Choene.

From Gwanda, Mnangagwa will address another rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday. This will be the first ZANU PF rally at the venue where former President Robert Mugabe addresses his last rally as head of state.