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for Zanu-PF and is determined to go to Parliament.
“I have made my mind and I want to take the fight for women emancipation to a higher level.
“The new Constitution has offered us an opportunity to seek redress of the status of women in the country.
“Zanu-PF has taken a step towards that and I am to ensure that the new Constitution is implemented to its fullest,” said Zanu-PF women’s quota candidate for Midlands Province Cde Tionei Melody Dziva.
The 28-year-old political activist says she was born in Marondera, but her parents come from Ngundu in Chivi, Masvingo.
She however, grew up in the Midlands.
Cde Dziva holds a BSc Honours degree in Administration from the University of Zimbabwe and Masters in Development Studies from the Women’s University in Africa.
She is not new to politics as she was born in a political family.
Her mother, Anna Mudavanhu, is also a full-time politician and is a candidate in the harmonised elections contesting in council elections on a Zanu-PF ticket.
Cde Dziva entered full-time politics in 2004 when she was elected secretary for Gender in the Zanu-PF University of Zimbabwe branch.
The demands of the position, she said, helped to groom her to be an exponent of gender and fighter for women’s emancipation in the Zanu-PF branch.
Her hard work saw her being appointed Faculty of Arts student representative in the Student Representative Assembly in 2005.
A resolute woman she was, Cde Dziva was to be elected secretary for International Relations in the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union in 2006.
She used her post in Zicosu to champion the emancipation of the young women in tertiary colleges in Zimbabwe and regionally.
Her background in Zanu-PF helped much in modelling her ideas and gaining the support of the people.
After graduating from the university, Cde Dziva moved to back to Gweru where she easily entered national politics starting in the Zanu-PF Midlands Province when she was co-opted as deputy secretary for production in the youth league.
In 2012 she was again co-opted into the national youth league as deputy secretary for economic affairs. That is the position that she holds in Zanu-PF
She says: “I have a passion to work with the people. That is what pushed me into seeking the office.
“The country needs all its citizens to work together if we are to build a country that we are proud of. I am only playing my part as a patriotic Zimbabwe.
‘’I have seen that a number of youths are taking their energies to self enrichment without regard of the general populace and I thought I need to focus of improving the welfare of the people through Parliament. It is part of my service to the party and the country.
“My wish is to ensure that the land reform programme gets to its finality and that all people including the women and youths have a fair share of the land. That is one of my main tasks when I get into Parliament.
“I will use that forum to ensure that the marginalised are fully represented. Mind you I am coming in as part of the Midlands female quota.”
Cde Dziva said she was part of the Zanu-PF team seconded to Copac as a rapporteur during the constitution-making process and will only be happy if people’s aspirations are carried in the Constitution.
“That includes the fact that Zimbabwe is a Christian state and should not allow gayism and lesbianism.
“That’s a fundamental issue and I hope to ensure that is preserved. I will ensure that I will raise my voice so that land remains in the hands of the people.
“Those who want to reverse the gains of the land reform programme are actually fighting the people and will get a thorough beating from the electorate come July 31.
“I feel women are marginalised and this is the time for us to claim our space. Women should take this opportunity to choose candidates that will help improve their lives and of their families.
“I urge them to vote Zanu-PF so that the party can proceed with the empowerment programmes,” she said.
She said she was confident of making into Parliament as Zanu-PF had made enough homework after being forced into embracing a union of convenience with the MDC-T.
“That protest vote that the MDC formations have always relied on is long gone and they are in for a rude awakening in the July 31 elections.
“The party has drummed up its support and is heading for a landslide victory.
“We have played our part and that gives me the confidence that I will be in the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Cde Dziva said although she was not married, she has a fiancé who has been the biggest supporter of her political ambitions.
She also thanked her spiritual father prophet Uebert Angel for nurturing her into a young woman who is not afraid of taking challenges.
“Prophet Angel has been my sources of encouragement. This is not to mention the inspiration that I always draw from President Mugabe and my parents who helped mould me into a responsible woman.
“My mother has been a pillar in my life and I want to credit her for the success I have achieved both educationally and politically,” he said.
She has worked as an administrator for the Midlands Development Association that spearheaded the construction of the venue of the December 2012 Zanu-PF National Conference in Gweru.
She only quit the association after being offered a place to pursue her Masters programme with the Women’s University in Africa.
Online Reporter