Chronicle Editor
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Politics Hub
Seventy-three-year-old Mrs Janet Masuku from Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb has seen her fair share of elections in the country come and go. She understands the predictable political rhetoric that pervades election season when politicians disappear into thin air after failing to garner enough votes for office.
The losing candidates start the cycle by promising the electorate heaven on earth during campaign season, lose on the ballot, disappear and only emerge years later to contest in yet another election.
Voters such as Mrs Masuku have, however, caught on to that predictable political rhetoric and tend to take promises made by some politicians with a pinch of salt.
She however says she is pleasantly surprised that not all losing candidates ditch voters post-election period as is the case with Emakhandeni/Luveve constituency candidate in the 2023 harmonised elections, Cde Brian Samuriwo.
Mrs Masuku is diabetic and has battled the condition for over two decades. Last year, she was a beneficiary of a programme run by the Brian Samuriwo Foundation – a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering both the elderly and youths. The organisation distributed free medicines to elderly residents of Luveve and Emakhandeni suburbs.
Fast forward to almost a year later, elections have come and gone and Cde Samuriwo, a Zanu-PF cadre says he believes that developmental projects are not a once off initiative but a continuous process that demands hard work, compassion for the people and a dedication to improving the lives of the electorate.
He is still forging ahead with the projects that he promised before the watershed August 2023 plebiscite.
Beyond political promises, Cde Samuriwo said he understands the challenges the people of Luveve and Emakhandeni suburbs face such as access to healthcare for the elderly, job creation and youth empowerment opportunities.
“Last month, my granddaughter was one of the many young people who graduated at a vocational skills training that was paid for by (Cde) Samuriwo and I’m grateful that he still continues to assist the youth even after he lost in the elections. People sometimes get tired of politicians who run away from their constituencies soon after the elections and only come back years later to promise the same things that they failed to fulfil in the past.
“So, like everyone else, I thought he (Cde Samuriwo) was just doing his projects in Luveve and Emakhandeni suburbs for the sake of campaigning, but I’ve realised that indeed he cares for the people, especially the youths,” said Mrs Masuku.
Her granddaughter was among the nearly 400 youths that completed vocational skills training sponsored by Cde Samuriwo last month, something that charmed Zanu- PF national political commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha who was among party leaders and members that attended the event.
Cde Machacha lauded the Bulawayo businessman for his continued development programmes that dovetail with President Mnangagwa’s agenda of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
President Mnangagwa has on various fora called on politicians and Zimbabweans in general to realise that it takes hard work, patriotism and unity to make the country great.
Cde Samuriwo said he understands that the President’s vision of transforming the country into an upper middle income economy can only be achieved when small steps are taken at ward and constituency level to improve the lives of the people.
Cde Samuriwo said the youths are an integral part of achieving Vision 2030 thus he would continue to avail opportunities such as sponsoring vocational skills training to give young people of Luveve and Emakhandeni suburbs tangible solutions to turn around their lives.
“I was raised in Luveve suburb and I have walked and played in the streets where today’s youths spend most of their time, so giving them opportunities to enrol for vocational skills training, free of charge, is my way of giving back to the community that raised me.
“As a local politician, it is my responsibility to support the President’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind, so I will continue doing my part in assisting the people of Luveve and Emakhandeni suburbs,” said Cde Samuriwo.
The Brian Samuriwo Foundation extends its support beyond healthcare and offering vocational training opportunities to the youth by also lending a helping hand to bereaved families by providing firewood, water and food in the constituency.
Cde Samuriwo said as articulated by President Mnangagwa, the country is no longer in election mode and it’s time to work and develop the nation. He said he would continue with his developmental projects agenda in the Luveve/Emakhandeni constituency.
Online Reporter