May 25, 2016

Brian Hungwe
BBC  Africa, Harare

Thousands of supporters of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party have been bused
into the capital, Harare, for a so-called million man march to show
solidarity with President Robert Mugabe.
[image: Zimbabwe march]BBC

All the country's provinces are sending people of different ages, though it
was dubbed a  march for youth.
[image: Zimbabwe march]BBC

[image: Zimbabwe march]BBC

A military helicopter has been hovering above the venue monitoring the
situation.
President Mugabe, 92, is expected to address the crowd congregating at a
square named after him.

Marchers call Mugabe a 'visionary leader'

The BBC's Brian Hungwe has taken these pictures of the march in Zimbabwe's
capital Harare which is being held to honour President Robert Mugabe on
Africa Day.

People are carrying banners calling it a million man march, even though the
crowd is nowhere near that size:
[image: Zimbabwe march]BBC

Another banner calls Mr Mugabe a visionary leader:
[image: Zimbabwe march]BBC

While this man decided to cover his face:
[image: Masked marcher]BBC

Mugabe gives defiant speech on Africa Day
[image: Thousands of Zimbabwe Zanu PF party supporters gathered at an open
space to show their support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, in
Harare, Zimbabwe, 25 May 2016]EPA

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has said he is "not a Yankee", as he
addressed around 50,000 of his supporters at a rally held in the capital,
Harare, to honour him on Africa Day.
[image: Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace greet supporters of his ZANU (PF)
party during the "One Million Man March", a show of support of Mugabe"s
rule in Harare, Zimbabwe, May 25, 2016]Reuters

The 92-year-old also ruled out the possibility of stepping down from
office, and hit out at rival leaders in the ruling Zanu-PF party
for plotting to succeed him.

Mr Mugabe added:

"There should never be little groups to promote so and so. Those little
groups are treasonous groups, they poison the party. I belong to my people.
I don't like to be American. I am not a Yankee. I am not a Briton... I
belong to Zimbabwe."

"I am at the service of the people. If the people feel I should go, I go.
But at the moment where do you want me to go? I am not going anywhere."






-- 
Ann Marie

"The art of living consists of knowing what to pay attention to and what to
ignore."  -- Mardy Grothe

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