Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ERRANT legislators who are not going back to their constituencies to champion development initiatives and listen to the concerns of the electorate are soiling, not only their images, but that of the Government and the ruling ZANU PF party, said a Politburo member.
During the ZANU PF Manicaland Provincial Coordination Committee (PCC) meeting held in Mutare this afternoon, it emerged that some legislators have long forgotten roads to their constituencies after their elections into office.
The trend is now threatening to destabilise party and Government operations as some elements are now taking advantage of the MPs absence to start campaigning for parliamentary and senior party positions.
Addressing the PCC meeting, ZANU PF Treasurer-General, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said such MPs must be reported through existing party channels and remedial action be taken.
“On the issue that has been raised by the ZANU PF Political Commissar for Manicaland (Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa) that some MPs are not going back to their constituencies, we are also hearing this at national level. What we encourage is that if you have such constituencies please report them through the relevant structures, that is through the Political Commissar. Party leadership at the provincial level will talk to them. If that does not work, they forward the names through the party hierarchy, we know how to deal with them because if MPs fail to go back to the people it is the name of the party and Government that they are denigrating,” said Cde Chinamasa.
The issue came to light after some concerns had been raised in the same meeting about some elements have emerged campaigning to replace incumbents in the next harmonised elections.
Cde Nyakuedzwa said MPs have an obligation to go back to the electorate after being voted into office.
“Our MPs have an obligation to go back to the people. These are issues we are seized with and the Chief Whip will be made aware of any errant MPs who are not going back to their constituencies. There are remedies that we can use for this. All we want is for people to fulfill their duties. We want all these MPs to work amicably with the party district leadership (DCCs),” he said.
However, ZANU PF Manicaland chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza, said campaigning for an office that is not vacant in unacceptable.
Cde Mukodza strongly denounced the practice of campaigning for a post that is not vacant.
“All we want is unity. We want to warn all those that are campaigning. I think this is is unacceptable. Surely, we cannot have a party cadres campaigning for a post that is being held by another. Let us work together for progress and development. We are aware of the existence of such shenanigans. Some are even going to a radical extent of preaching falsehoods about party leadership structures. It’s sad but we warn those perpetrating this,” said Cde Mukodza.
In his contribution to the meeting on the matter, Buhera DCC chairman, Cde Causemore Chimombe said in his district the issue of party cadres already campaigning for positions that are being held by others has surfaced.
“In Buhera, we have such challenges in some parts of the district, especially in Buhera South. The incumbent must never sleep because the one eying their post now calls himself a hyena. Like a goat, if the incumbent sleeps on duty, they stand to lose two, three children the next morning. So these are issues I feel we should confront and find an immediate solution,” he said.
