Any lingering skepticism as to the reality of the so-called  Simba Makoni juggernaut were deflated when, out of curiosity and desire to have a first-hand account of the political landscape, I undertook the 70 kilometre trip  from Kwekwe to Gweru on Saturday 8 March 2007 to witness Simba Makoni's rally at Mkoba stadium.  Firstly, I was disappointed to miss the Kwekwe rally which had ominous signs of poor organization in that  a local weekly had reported doubts over the rally taking place because of the choice of  venue besides controversy over how independent candidate and maverick local businessman, Mr. Peter Gore, seemingly squeezed  himself onto the Mavambo / Kusile / Dawn platform. Having arrived at the Mbizo venue for the rally at about 12:40 p.m., I was informed that the rally had already finished whereupon I quickly decided to drive to Gweru. The contrast with the Kwekwe rally was immediately apparent as we drove into Gweru because they were rally posters everywhere.

When Simba Makoni's convoy headed for Mkoba  via the city centre, there was pandemonium at the weekend flea market  in the city centre as a huge crowd rushed to catch a glimpse of Simba Makoni in the vehicle that was carrying him. This signaled just the beginning of amazing things to come. At the stadium, a crowd of between 5,000 to 7,000 was already waiting and this swelled to about 8,000 by the time Simba Makoni was invited to address the crowd. How amazing -there were no buses, lorries or combis that had ferried people to the stadium

The air of expectation was palpable and chief in the people's minds was the question of who was behind the Simba Makoni project. Aware of the smear and rumours surrounding his candidacy,  Simba quickly addressed the matter. "I am the real Simba Makoni that you are seeing. I am not fronting anyone. I was not sent by anyone or any group. I was sent by the desire to serve you, the people, so that we, together, can get Zimbabwe working again" he said in Shona, much to the evident relieve of many in the crowd that I heard mumbling "That's what we have been waiting to hear from you and we hope you will stay like that".

 He reiterated that he is in alliance with the people of Zimbabwe. He appreciates the support that Arthur Mutambara has given for his candidacy. He has supporters in both formations of MDC, including a large number in Zanu PF, he added. He, however, does not believe in aligning with any one group to the exclusion of others because his vision is for national reconciliation, national healing and national re-engagement where the people of Zimbabwe regain the power to determine their destination through his leadership that believes in working with all the people across tribes, regions and political affiliation. Our identity should be first and foremost Zimbabwean, he said.

Simba Makoni had the crowd in stitches when he countered the President's smear campaign against him. He said if he was being used by the west during the 27 years that he had worked with him, including cabinet positions, and the president was fully aware that he was a stooge of the west, then it means the president himself is also a stooge of the west. He asked the President to produce the evidence where and when he said he was going to return the land to the whites. He has no intention to reverse land redistribution but hastened to add that he will certainly take away land from multiple farm owners and under-utilized land and ensure transparent, fair and equitable distribution. Many land audit reports were done but were never actioned. There was need to start from those reports.

He said he does not believe in giving people promises of what he would do for them like others do, but would want to be a servant of the people because he believes the people should have the power to be a part of solutions for the challenges facing them. They have demonstrated their ability to do so before and his leadership will ensure a return to that. Zimbabweans are known to be hard-working, educated and capable throughout the world where they have contributed immensely in the diaspora. Our citizens should be allowed to contribute to the growth of their own country and conditions for that is what his leadership will strive for.

Fear should be eradicated from our society and he deplores the class divisions where the political leaders and those well-connected to them live differently.  He was touched by an elderly woman's report that hospitals have become a place to die instead of treatment. The ruling elite seek treatment outside Zimbabwe whereas we used to treat foreigners in our hospitals when they were working. They send their children for education outside Zimbabwe and in Zimbabwe their children sit for Cambridge examinations, which ridicules their assertion that external exams are foreign and Zimsec is the ideal, patriotic and indigenous route to go. He said he sought answers from the Reserve Bank governor why people were unable to withdraw their money from the banks.  Practically nothing is working in Zimbabwe and when he confronted the president and told him that the party was failing the people, he did not listen to him. He is now seeking a mandate from the people to lead the country in a new direction

As he closed his address, Simba Makoni asked the crowd how many were going to vote for him and practically every hand went up. How amazing indeed. Despite an attempt by a group of ZANU PF activists to disrupt the meeting by some loud singing just outside the stadium, the people in the stadium were unmoved. The intended disruption just fizzled after ten minutes when the perpetrators realized they were heading nowhere.

How amazing indeed for a man reported to be a lightweight with no grassroots support, to attract such a crowd that one Gweru resident said was the biggest rally he had seen at Mkoba stadium. Even more amazing is that such a large crowd turned out on their own volition without coercion, food handouts, party cards, transport to and from their home, no party activists mobilized for attendance. Simba can count on these genuine voters.

Who then are the so-called heavyweights that we are reminded ad nauseum that Simba needs to make an impact on the electorate? The multitudes that I saw at Mkoba stadium, are these not the real heavyweights that have been robbed their voice and power to bring about the Zimbabwe that they want to see? SIMBA KUVANHU/ AMANDLA EBANTWINI / POWER TO THE PEOPLE was the only slogan. Absent were PAMBERI and PASI neither were the clenched fist or the open palm (MBAMA) that remind people they are itching for a fight. Instead, I saw the clasped hands depicting the need for UNITY AND WORKING TOGETHER. HOW REFRESHING!