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Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
He might have served his constituency for just one term, but his election as the Sanyati Constituency legislator has brought smiles on faces of many people.
In line with President Mnangagwa’s call on Zimbabweans to help develop their country, the Zanu PF member and legislator for Sanyati Constituency Cde Polite Kambamura has dedicated his time in the last few years to develop the area.
Cde Kambamura, who is also the Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister, has committed time and resources to the constituency, previously regarded as one of the remotest and lagging behind in terms of development.
Today, he stands tall among ordinary people and politicians that have elected to disregard the noises by opposition elements who are only out there to criticise their country and the ruling Zanu PF, without proffering solutions.
As the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa initiated various developmental projects on a national scale targeting roads, schools, borders, schools, clinics and airports, among others, Cde Kambamura led his own revolution in Sanyati Constituency using a combination of personal funds and Constituency Development Funds.
“We have to rally behind President Mnangagwa for Zimbabwe to achieve Vision 2030,” said Cde Kambamura in a recent interview. “His Vision is only achievable if we play our part, which includes working tirelessly for the people that we represent and lead.
“I was humbled in 2018 when people in my constituency appreciated and voted for me. I made a pledge then to dedicate my whatever I can, towards development of the area.”
Sanyati is known as one of the best areas in the country that previously produced quality and plenty of cotton.
But due to a drop in world market prices and the illegally imposed sanctions, the area was heavily affected.
Before the introduction of the successful climate-proofed agriculture commonly known as Pfumvudza/Intwasa by the Second Republic to cushion rural and peri-urban farmers from the effects of climate change, communities in Sanyati relied heavily on food aid from both the Government and non-governmental organisations.
The effects of climate change negatively impacted Sanyati Rural District Council, which failed to raise enough revenue from struggling villagers for development purposes.
It naturally meant that there was between little and no funding for the construction of schools and health care centres.
However, when Cde Kambamura romped to victory in 2018, and driven by his passion to serve the people of Sanyati, most of the challenges faced by the people in the area were to be addressed.
A successful businessman in his own right, with interests in the pharmaceutical, transport, mining and hospitality and tourism sectors among others, it was not difficult for Cde Kambamura to spearhead the developments.
Said Cde Kambamura: “President Mnangagwa has made it easy for anyone who wants to be involved in any form of business to venture into that business. The environment is conducive for all, whether local or foreign investors. This is the reason why I am ploughing back to the community as I rally behind him (the President) towards nation-building.”
Although he was only three years old when Zimbabwe got Independence from Britain in 1980, Cde Kambamura believes the echoes of the liberation struggle that reverberates in his mind through teachings from formal education and the Chitepo School of Ideology, remain the reason for being part of the revolutionary party, Zanu PF.
He stood up and has been doing something for his constituency.
To ensure Zanu PF remains in charge of the country’s affairs from this year on, after the elections, Cde Kambamura has strongly participated in the party’s drive to attain five million votes for President Mnangagwa by sourcing and donating at least eight bicycles to each of the 18 political districts under his purview.
With the latest delimitation report, at least 10 more political districts have been added to his jurisdiction.
In that regard, Cde Kambamura has secured funding for the purchase of 80 more bicycles for the new districts.
The bicycles, he said, were meant to improve mobility of the party’s structures as they mobilise people to register to vote for President Mnangagwa’s to ensure a resounding victory in this year’s harmonised elections.
As a way of supporting the agrarian reform, Cde Kambamura has been partnering the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Ministry during field days to honour outstanding farmers in his constituency.
Since his election, he has sponsored various events with farming equipment that include ploughs, harrows, cultivates, and scotch carts.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) provincial head, Mrs Evelyn Ndoro said Cde Kambamura had been supportive of communal farmers in his constituency.
“He has partnered us whenever we conducted field days to honour outstanding farmers while at the same time imparting agronomic knowledge to our communal farmers,” she said.
“Cde Kambamura has for long been donating farming equipment and inputs during field days as a way of supporting farming in his constituency.”
In addition, he has influenced the revival of the Seke, Gowe and Dugwane/Takavinga irrigation schemes.
Climate change and the decline in cotton prices left many farmers in the constituency and entire Sanyati district vulnerable, with many relying on food aid but after the revival of the schemes, Cde Kambamura introduced garlic production as a way of giving over 200 households income generating activities.
Cde Kambamura started politics from the grassroots at the cell level, rising through the ranks until he eventually became a provincial member.
He submitted his political curriculum vitae for consideration for the 2018 harmonised elections under the Zanu PF ticket.
He won the primary elections and campaigned vigorously for himself and the Zanu PF presidential candidate, Cde Mnangagwa.
Cde Kambamura polled 12 082 votes, resoundingly beating the MDC Alliance candidate Mr Xavier Abel Edziwa, who had 4 752 votes.
Other candidates Simangaliso Chabuka of the National Patriotic Front, Florence Gwatinyanya of ZIPP, Baster Willie Magwizi of ZAPU and the People’s Rainbow Coalition leader, Gift Nyandoro, got paltry votes.
The internal party election, Cde Kambamura said, was not without challenges.
“The primary election was fiercely contested and sadly, other comrades resorted to using hate speech, violence and backlash after losing,” he said. “But, we managed to rally our people after elections to move forward for the resounding victory for Zanu PF in 2018, hence the results,” he said.
A graduate from the University of Zimbabwe in 2002 with a Bsc Honours in Mining Engineering after having benefitted from the Presidential Scholarship programme at Advanced Level, Cde Kambamura worked for several mines in Zimbabwe including Trojan Nickel Mine, Shamva Gold Mine and Ashanti Goldfields.
He went to South Africa where he acquired more knowledge in mining, working in several mines starting from junior positions to management.
Online Reporter