Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
BOASTING vast teaching experience spanning 29 years, Zanu-PF candidate in the August 23 general elections vying for the National Assembly seat in Beitbridge West, Cde Thusani Ndou, is fully aware of the importance of the education sector in developing the nation.
Once elected into office, Cde Ndou has set his eyes on developing the education sector, especially in rural areas as one of his key priorities.
He learned and taught in rural schools, which makes him have firsthand experience of the challenges facing rural learners and educators.
While the Second Republic has made great strides towards developing rural communities, what is needed are community ambassadors who share the Government vision, says Cde Ndou, one of the 12 National Assembly candidates from Matabeleland South who will be representing the ruling party in the forthcoming polls.
His view is that the Second Republic’s devolution focus, a key component of the National Development Strategy (NDS1) that seeks to ensure “no one and no place is left behind”, he says he is determined to drive development in Beitbridge through various projects.
Government has already laid the groundwork for the transformation through, among many other things, establishing tertiary institutions, including vocational training centres in rural areas, and intensifying the rural electrification programme.
Cde Ndou says once elected into office he will ensure that significant development is realised in his constituency in line with national ideals.
He said his time to represent the party has come at an opportune moment as he feels that there is a lot of development he can bring.
“Government is doing a lot to develop the education sector and other key sectors. As an ambassador of the party, I want to complement efforts by the Government,” he said.
“All the work can’t be done by Government and therefore we have to come up with our own development initiatives at local level.”
Cde Ndou said schools need to be rehabilitated as some are dilapidated while some children walk long distances to schools, thus affecting their performance.
“Some schools don’t have electricity, which impacts negatively in terms of teaching computers and other science subjects. Other schools are being shunned by teachers due to various reasons such as poor road network, poor state of infrastructure and poor accommodation,” said Cde Ndou.
His desire is to rope in diasporans to invest in developing their home areas and has already started lobbying towards this.
“Gone are the days when communities had to wait for Government and donors to provide funds for development. Members of the community have to be instrumental in driving the development of key infrastructure in their areas,” he said.
Cde Ndou said once partners see that the community is committed in developing its area, they would also come on board.
“If our schools develop, then that will mean that we will be investing towards human capital, which in turn will develop our community. All the other sectors will then develop as well,” he said.
“We want our schools to teach pure sciences so that they can churn out children who will be future scientists. We want our children to have access to the internet as the education system has evolved with pupils now learning and researching online.”
Cde Ndou said his constituency is located in ecological region five where villagers have to rely on irrigation farming as crops do not do well under rain-fed agriculture.
There is a need to harness water, which will support small-holder irrigation schemes and nutritional gardens, says Cde Ndou, also stressing the importance of improving key service delivery issues such as health, building bridges, roads rehabilitation, rural electrification, internet connectivity, and enhanced water supply, among others.
Beitbridge West Constituency has three urban wards and nine rural wards. Cde Ndou was born in Shashe, Ward 8, Beitbridge District on 22 February in 1967. He attended Shashe Primary School and Manama High School. He obtained a Diploma in Education from the United College of Education 1994 and has taught at various schools. He later furthered his education and enrolled for a degree in Public Administration at the Reformed Church University. Cde Ndou is a businessman and also chairs the Beitbridge Commercial Farmers Association. — @DubeMatutu
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