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Tsvangirai launches bus campaign strategy

                                       By Blessed Chapwati

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has launched his campaign trail that will take him through major cities and towns and rural areas using a bus painted in full party colours and bearing his portrait.

The new campaign strategy will involve the use of two buses a 25 and 75 seater. The American style of campaigning is a counter to ZANU PF's dominance of political space where MDC has been denied the chance to hold rallies and sell its manifesto to the people.

ZANU PF is enjoying advertising space in the state media and holding rallies where in rural areas villagers are being forced to attend meetings.

Briefing journalists MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said the campaign dubbed "The Victory Tour" will take them to towns and villages to meet face to face with the people.

"We are going on this bus. We will be in every town and some villages to meet the people and ensure that the message goes on," Tsvangirai said.

Several MDC rallies have been disturbed by ZANU PF youths and war veterans who sometimes have beaten up people to dispurse. Last week Tsvangirai was detained twice by police in Matabeleland while on his way to meetings.

Meanwhile MDC member of parliament for Buhera West Advocate Eric Matinenga is still in custody despite a high court order to have him released.

Matinenga was taken to Rusape for trial on Wednesday but his case could not be heard following the refusal by magistrates to preside over the case infear of being in contempt of the high court order.

His lawyers have since filed for contempt in light of the police's refusal to release Matinenga.

Matinenga who was earlier on cleared by a Mutare Magistrate court is being charged for inciting public violence and is alleged to have paid opposition activists who had gone around the constituency attacking supporters and activists of president Mugabe's Zanu PF party.