Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
ZANU-PF National Assembly candidate for Nketa constituency and Bulawayo businessman, Cde Tawengwa Zidya, has pledged to help empower youths to generate income through several economic projects.
In a recent interview during the party’s candidate meeting with the people, Cde Zidya (42) said he has engaged experts in fence making, brick moulding, carpentry, bread, and cake making, as well as welding to capacitate local youths.
“I have a lot to do in this constituency before and after the elections. I intend to take our youths off the streets in the process ensuring that they do not engage in illicit activities like drugs and substance abuse,” said Cde Zidya.
Unlike other suburbs like Njube, Mzilikazi and Makokoba, he noted that there are no home industries in Nketa constituency.
In order to keep the youths busy, he said his desire was to start with training to impart home-based income-generating project skills as well as organise sporting programmes during weekends.
“We will have income-generating projects such as bread and cake making, poultry and rearing rabbits, which will all go a long way in empowering the people,” said the aspiring legislator.
“After experts finish training the youths, they will now be able to operate on their own. What we will do is to capacitate them by providing them with the resources needed and even start-up capital.
“I am excited and humbled by the support from the people and I remain confident that Nketa will contribute significantly towards the five million votes for President Mnangagwa,” said Cde Zidya.
He said he was ready to push the party agenda in the constituency in line with the revolutionary party’s drive to leave no stone unturned in its preparations for the upcoming harmonised elections.
Across the country, Zanu-PF has already lined up a number of programs to ensure a resounding victory for the party as it targets the five million votes for President Mnangagwa.
As the nation awaits the pronouncement of poll dates, the revolutionary party is pushing to lure the masses to consolidate its anticipated emphatic win.
Over the weekend the party held marathon meetings throughout the city where it introduced winning candidates that will represent the party in local Government elections, National Assembly, women’s quota and senatorial elections.
Party members were told to preach unity and rally behind winning candidates with Politburo member and Nketa Senatorial candidate Cde Elifasi Mashaba telling losing candidates that ‘it’s either you are with us or without us.’
He said the meetings were also being used to emphasise on unity and also telling members that the First Secretary, President Mnangagwa was a known advocate for non-violent and confrontational campaigning.
“The message we are carrying as the leadership is for people to unite, we are saying unity, unity and unity. Losing candidates must make sure that they rally behind the winning party candidates and also solidify and consolidate the five million votes for His Excellency, the President,” said Cde Mashaba.
Preliminary projections already indicate the party is poised to thrash the opposition parties given the transformative development programs being championed under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa with Matabeleland region, previously said to be lagging behind in infrastructural development, immensely benefiting from both central Government’s direct projects or those coming from devolution funds that saw local authorities building or sprucing up existing infrastructure such as clinic, roads, bridges, and schools. -@skhumoyo2000
Online Reporter