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Zimbabwe: Election Fashion Roundup
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Financial Gazette (Harare)
COLUMN
3 April 2008
Posted to the web 3 April 2008
Stanley Kwenda
Harare
The 2008 general elections were more than just about speeches and rallies.
More than just a political contest, it was also the matter of what candidates were wearing at times that seemed much bigger than the real election issues.
The three main presidential candidates, Morgan Tsvangirai, Simba Makoni and President Robert Mugabe, added colour to the contest with their different styles and taste.
So did their spouses, who were always spot-on in their beautiful outfits, as they joined their husbands on the campaign trail.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Tsvangirai, chose West African-style shirts and his signature cowboy hats for his campaigns while wife Susan was always draped in red, black and white -- the MDC colours.
President Mugabe who rarely puts on anything other than his designer suits, shirts and ties, traded his formal and regular look for simple party regalia. He put on a long sleeved ZANU-PF shirts inscribed with his face and a matching cap.
His wife Grace, an all time elegant dresser, was not to be outdone in her ZANU-PF designer outfits with the images of her husband and matching doek.
Presidential aspirant and Mugabe's former Finance Minister, also a smart dresser, carefully chose his gear to suit the occassion. For example he chose a resplendent black suit and a matching pink shirt with a pink and black-striped tie to launch his campaign on February 5 at the Rainbow Towers.
But on his cutthroat campaign, which took him to rural areas, he chose yellow shirts, matching khaki trousers and a yellow cap. The yellow colour became his Mavambo/Kusile party official colour. His wife, Chipo, chose executive suits, which she sometimes dropped for Mavambo/Kusile regalia.
But it was on election day that all the world's eyes were on the three politicians.
All made a good showing, but the Weekend Gazette election day fashion trophy goes to the Mugabes. The couple arrived at Mhofu primary school -- where they cast their votes in style -- in their official Mercedes Benz and stepped out in regal fashion.
Mugabe decided to go against tradition on the day, exchanging his suits for a chequered blazer, matching checquered shirt and pair of black trousers. The First Lady sported a green outfit with black stripes and a matching black doek.
In tow was the president's daughter, 19-year Bona, who chose a light blue formal outfit on her first day as a voter. To boost the fashion cred of the first family were the central intelligence officers in their sleek designer suits.
Tsvangirai came second in the dress contest, with his simple white and blue attire while his wife was in smart designer wear as they cast their votes at Avondale Primary School.
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Makoni came third, he was in a beige and black number, while his wife Chipo wore a purple outfit.
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| Copyright © 2008 Financial Gazette. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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