MDC-T legislators had an elaborate entrance while party leader Morgan Tsvangirai came in a convoy of luxury cars, before going around the stadium saluting party supporters.
A highlight of the afternoon was when university lecturer, John Makumbe announced that he intended to contest the Buhera West seat in the next election. “I always thought that as an academic I should be neutral, but now I want to contest the Buhera West constituency,” he said.
The seat is presently held by Eric Matinenga. When told that he could not covet that seat, Makumbe shot back that the constituents said they wanted a “white man”. Makumbe is an Albino.
Party chairman, Lovemore Moyo’s speech was drowned by the entrance of Hosea Chipanga as the crowd started singing chanting his name, rendering the last parts of the Speaker of Parliament’s speech inaudible.
The active Chipanga was then asked to sing and he did not disappoint, keeping the thousands entertained with his electric but mystic gyrations. MDC-T also took advantage of the occasion to honour its luminaries.
Founding MDC leader Gibson Sibanda was also awarded posthumously. There were fears that the celebrations would be disrupted after Zanu PF supporters clashed with vendors in Highfields earlier in the week.
But there were no reports of violence. On Friday evening the party held a dinner at a Harare hotel as part of the celebrations.
