ZIMBABWE: About 3,000 unenthusiastic supporters came to listen to Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe yesterday at what turned out to be a low-key rally in one of his main rural strongholds.
A crowd of bemused-looking women and children holding flags and banners which bore the words "Wake Up Tony: Zimbabwe Is Our Mother Land" [ Tony meaning prime minister Blair] had gathered at the Garwe football ground in Chivhu, Mashonaland, from about 10am in anticipation of their leader's arrival.
Unfortunately, the president did not arrive until 2pm, and everyone had to stand rooted to the spot under a hot African sun until he turned up.
The majority of Chivhu's villagers made up the numbers at the rally, although a few hundred outside supporters of Zanu-PF - short for the Zimbabwean African National Union Patriotic Front - came from Harare by bus to lend support to the occasion.
Chivhu village seemed almost desertedbefore a lone woman approached the car as we passed a house and motioned to us to wind the window down. "We are very glad that you have come," she said before slipping away quickly in case anyone might see her.
During the four-hour wait for the president a few male members of Zanu-PF took turns at leading the crowd in a series of chants in an attempt to create a lively atmosphere for the rally.
"Tsvangirai [ leader of the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change] has laid himself on a razor blade and chopped himself to pieces," they roared into a microphone in the local Shona dialect.
While a large group of war veterans - a group which has continuously supported President Mugabe since the country's war of independence against the white Rhodesians in the 1970s - repeated the chant enthusiastically, the majority of the crowed were less responsive.
Chivhu resident Kenneth Mundopa was more enthusiastic about the rally than most of his fellow villagers. He was delighted that the president had decided to visit his village, as he had been a Zanu-PF supporter all his life.
"I am very happy the president is visiting us because the government has made so many strides since they have been in power - in education and health they are doing really well," he said.
However, when asked to describe some of the educational and health initiatives which the government had introduced in the area, Mr Mundopa was unable to outline any.
A second local man refused to answer any questions about Mr Mugabe or the ruling Zanu-PF party because he said it was difficult to talk openly while surrounded by members of the police and armed forces.
"I came here today to see what people would turn up for the rally. But I cannot talk to you," he said nervously while looking over his shoulder. "Maybe I can have your phone number and we can talk later?"
He then disappeared back into the crowd assembled in front of the specially-erected stage from which the president was to address the rally.
When Mr Mugabe finally arrived with his large entourage of bodyguards and high-ranking party officials he did a quick pass of the crowd before entering a tent and accepting an orange drink from a butler dressed in a spotless white uniform and wearing white gloves.
After listening to a few of the opening speakers, President Mugabe began his address. "Down with Blair, down with Bush and down with the MDC," he said while holding a clenched fist in the air.
He went on to assure the crowd that Zimbabwe would never again be a colony and said it had been proved that the MDC was nothing more than a puppet of British prime minister Tony Blair.
In a strong, smooth voice, President Mugabe said he would only welcome support from the international community if it was given in partnership with the government, but the problem was that the British government wanted to exercise control over Zimbabwe.
"We don't worry about other people's internal affairs. We don't bother about their governments or the irregularities that occur in their elections. They hold their elections in their own way," he said. "Let them see how we hold our elections and recognise that we will determine the future of our country in our own way. We don't want any interference from outside."
Finally, Mr Mugabe retired to a tent behind the stage, where he donated a dozen personal computers and printers to three local schools. He and his entourage were then driven out of the football ground, leaving the people who had come to see him standing in the same rows they formed when they arrived five hours before.