By Munesu Chigada| Norton MP Temba Mliswa defied the odds and drew a staggering crowd at his Ward 12 and 15 rallies on Saturday in a move that shook the ZANU PF and MDC Alliance camps on Saturday ahead of the July 30 harmonized elections.

The rallies, coming a day after Chris Mutsvangwa held his own rally at Takunda Primary, was a huge testament of intent from the independent candidate as his crowd dwarfed the paltry audience that came to listen to the Special Advisor to President Mnangagwa, Chris Mutsvangwa.

The venues the rallies are reputed strongholds for ZANU PF and MDC.

Mutsvangwa had a paltry crowd just below hundred at his own Nyaga City event where he lambasted those seeking to support Mliswa.
However events from Saturday showed that many are not to be deterred from following the man they call Bhuru.

People started flocking out in huge numbers as early as 9 am defying the winter weather and assembling at the school whilst the combative legislator was still at another rally in Ward 15 at Nyaga City.

Eyewitnesses spoke.

“There were thousands here from morning but some went home when they saw that the MP was late in arriving at the venue but still you can see there are thousands still here,” said one lady at the rally.

Mliswa has slowly entrenched his hold on Norton through a huge number of developmental initiatives which have seen the building of school blocks, drilling of boreholes and repairing of roads.

Various roads in Garikayi, Maridale, Mashlands, the Chibero-Sandringham road and Madziyire, from Zvimba road to Bulawayo road, have been graded courtesy of his sponsorship.
All these have endeared him with the Norton population which is still smacking from 7 failed years under ZANU PF and MDC-T leadership.

Speaking at the rally in Ward 12 which is the biggest constituency in the urban zone, Mliswa promised to remain the people’s representative by working outside the limitations of parties.
“I don’t have time for cell or ward meetings, I only have time for doing the job that I’m elected to do which is to represent the people”, he said to an elated crowd.
An equally joyous occasion unfolded in Ward 15 earlier in the day when Mliswa addressed the biggest rural ward where thousands again braved the cold weather to gather for the penultimate rally before the July 30 harmonized elections.
Mliswa has vowed to finish his developmental projects if he wins this year and then proceed to contest for higher office.