admin
“The people of Matabeleland are so good in that they give each leader a chance. As leaders, people have always given us what we wanted but what have we done for them? Most of us have failed to meet people’s expectations,” said Dr Mpofu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Umguza.“In this part of the country politicians have tended to take people for granted.
After elections most House of Assembly members disappear and leave people to suffer alone. That is why most leaders do not stay long in those positions. Leaders should always know that they are in those posts because of the people. I am in this position because of the people who voted for me. I am what I am today because of you.”
Dr Mpofu said it was sad that some politicians have been implicated in the abuse of public funds such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
He said such greediness was an embarrassment to the electorate and betrayal on the part of leaders.
Dr Mpofu urged leaders to be sensitive to people’s problems and be proactive in finding solutions for them.
“Leadership should be sensitive to developmental issues such as education, food supply, water and general development. They should always be closer to the people, listen to them and develop good relations with them.
“A leader who does this is assured of wining an election. I for one am always with people in my constituency and come election time, I will win,” he said, drawing applause from the thousands of people present.
He challenged children from Matabeleland region to take education seriously in order to improve their passes and become effective future leaders.
Dr Mpofu pledged to pay school fees for all disadvantaged pupils in his constituency and said he was also going to facilitate the electrification of schools in the district so that teachers and pupils could take computer lessons.
He said there was a need to give more incentives to rural teachers who work under difficult conditions.
During the occasion, Dr Mpofu donated 15 laptops to secondary school heads and 30 computers to senior teachers.
There are 19 secondary schools in Umguza District.
In addition, each secondary school was given an HP LaserJet printer, 20 reams of bond paper and a consignment of stationery and sporting balls for pupils.
The stationery donated would see each secondary school pupil getting a mathematical set, 10 exercise books, a pen and a pencil.
The donation was calculated to cover 6 000 secondary school pupils in the district.
Of the 59 primary schools in the district, Dr Mpofu also donated learning material to 28 000 pupils.
A pupil doing Grade One or Two will be given a full set of crayons, art sheets, writing sheets and beginner’s pencil.
Those who are doing Grade Three to Seven will each be given a mathematical set, 10 exercise books, pens and pencils.
Dr Mpofu said the donation was done courtesy of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) in honour of his attainment of a doctorate degree and his 60th birthday.
He paid tribute to MMCZ for assisting him in developing his constituency.
Speaking at the same occasion Matabeleland North provincial education director Mrs BoithateloMnguni applauded Dr Mpofu for investing in the education sector.
She said the donation would go a long way towards improving the quality of education in the district.
MMCZ chairperson Mrs Juliet Machoba commended Dr Mpofu for ploughing back to his constituency, saying Umguza was a model constituency in the country.
MMCZ board member Mr Supa Mandiwanzira, Nust director of information and public relations Mr Felix Moyo, school heads, and pupils also attended the ceremony.
Online Reporter