adminTHE much-awaited June 10 by-elections have come and gone. The by-elections ushered in new brooms into the National Assembly and in Manicaland we would like to congratulate Zanu-PF candidates, Cdes Christopher Chingosho and Isau Mupfumi for their convincing victories in Headlands and Dangamvura-Chikanga respectively. The two cadres’ victories shamed all detractors as figures do not lie.
Cde Chingosho polled 11 104, some 1 029 votes more than the disgraced former Zanu-PF secretary for administration and legislator for the Headlands constituency, Mr Didymus Mutasa’s 10 975 in 2013. Cde Mupfumi was also equal to the task by amassing 6 376 votes, 5 373 more than his closest challenger, Mr Ruramai Musiiwa of the National Constitutional Assembly who had 1 003 votes.
All the 16 Zanu-PF new legislators who include Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo whose landslide victory of 11 695 votes against his rivals and independent candidates, Busani Ncube’s 91 and Getrude Sibanda’s 38 should always remember that they have the mandate of the people who elected them into office.
The electorate that braved the chilly weather as well as long queues to cast their ballots in the 16 constituencies expect nothing, but delivery of most if not all election promises. This alone calls for men and women who are willing to go the extra mile in discharging their duties.
Cde Chingosho committed himself to the corrections of all wrongs done by Mr Mutasa as well as initiating income generating projects for the people of Headlands, while Cde Mupfumi has service delivery at the nerve of his promises to the people of Chikanga and Dangamvura who some of them have gone for years without running water in their taps.
To the newly elected legislators, we want to remind them that gone are the days of sleeping on duty because the electorate will be watching.
If you sleep on duty, you will not only let yourself down, but the institution called Zanu-PF because there is no time to relax since 2018 is just three years away.
The ruling party is bigger than individuals and its good reputation should be protected by men and women who work hard in everything, people who walk the talk.
Over the past years, poor service delivery brought a lot of disgruntlement among ratepayers, thereby putting local authorities under the spotlight and Zanu-PF now in control of most urban centres, should work extra hard to bring positive and tangible change on the ground.
History has proved that political campaign manifestos usually create disquiet among the electorate as politicians make promises most likely to satisfy voters during each new election campaign.
In so doing, politicians raise the public’s expectations, creating false perceptions that, following the election, communities will receive the services promised.
Once these promises are not delivered, communities begin to panic and resort to Protestations. We do not want protest votes to dominate the 2018 elections as history has always taught us that Bhora Musango has undesired consequences. No-one wants to go back to the confusion of the Inclusive Government.
It is common knowledge that the country is reeling under the effects of illegal sanctions imposed on her by Britain and her allies, but the new legislators should not use the sanctions as an excuse of not delivering. They should work hard to come up with strategies to circumvent the sanctions.
Mutare City Council has twice been forced to scrap off or reduce residents’ outstanding debts, thus further exacerbating the problems, so the legislators have a mammoth task on their shoulders to ensure that at the end of their terms they have something to point at as their creation that helped a number of people to significantly contribute to the national economy.
To the new legislators, we wish them the best in their new duties, but they should always remember that the electorate is watching. They should also remember that they are servants of the people and not vice-versa.
Online Reporter