admin“I have come to correct that. His inactivity has actually opened my way to regain that seat for the revolutionary party,” Zanu-PF candidate for Kambuzuma Constituency in the July 31 polls has declared.
Cde Tongai Nheta (35) said by failing to address the problems faced by the people of Kambuzuma, the MDC-T MP and his councillors were actually campaigning for Zanu-PF.
He said MDC-T had failed to fulfill many promises they made to people making the electorate realise that they had made a mistake in voting for the British sponsored party.
“Kambuzuma is one of the oldest suburbs and has an aged population that needs special care and services but Mr Madzimure has decided to shut his ears from their cries. That is not how to represent a constituency.
“Madzimure has concentrated on rubbishing Zanu-PF and denied people development.
“What the people want is not rhetoric but action and that is not true of the outgoing MP.
“The protest vote that characterised the 2000 and 2008 election is over because the people have realised that the MDC-T was full of talk without action,” he said.
Despite his age, Cde Nheta is not new to politics and is raring to go into the elections to embarrass Madzimure.
Having started full time politics at the age of 12, Cde Nheta says he understands what the people want.
“The electorate wants promises fulfilled. They seem docile but they are always following you on the delivery path.
“They are not worried on how much noise you make in Parliament but about what you bring home.
“That has been Madzimure’s greatest undoing.
“He focused on the wrong things at the expense of the constituency. ‘The people are saying Mr Madzimure and your party where is our development and he has no answer.’
“He has failed to seek employment for youths despite the fact the constituency is close to Harare industry hub Lyton.
“I feel our people should benefit from the industry. I will not hesitate to knock on the doors of these companies to ask for jobs for the youths of the area,” he said.
Cde Nheta said he would ensure that factory shells that are closed can be opened to accommodate youth projects and new market shells constructed for the people of Kambuzuma.
“The drainage system is almost defunct yet the MP has done nothing. Can you imagine that he drilled only three boreholes using the US$50 000 Constituency Development Fund.
“To make matters worse the boreholes are not functioning. People are not happy with this and have thrown their support on the party of their independence,” he said.
He thanked his father for the political orientation that has seen him represent the revolutionary party in the harmonised elections.
He said his father was an ex detainee and always took time to lecture his children on the path of the liberation struggle, independence and national vision.
“My father used to tell us how tough life was in Rhodesia. I think my dad suffered a lot under Rhodesian rule that he always took time to school us on life under the Smith regime. I fell in love with the stories that at the tender age of 12, I was already political conscious.
“I felt the need to defend the country’s liberation and independence. Then it was out of wanting to belong, but I am now mature to lead a people. For over two decades I have been active in politics and Zanu-PF has and will always be my home,” he said.
Cde Nheta has held a number of leadership positions in the party before and is not afraid to lead the constituency of his choice, Kambuzuma.
“I have been through the mill and surely I can lead the constituency. The beauty of it is that Zanu-PF has people-oriented programmes that I am going to tap into to develop people. Who, with a leader like Cde Mugabe, can fail to spearhead development projects in the country?
“President Mugabe has shown us the way and we are ready to show the country that Zanu-PF is indeed the people’s party; that it has remained so, and is still the people party of 1980, 1990, 2000, 2008.”
“Our people come first that is why it has initiated these various empowerment programmes,” he said.
Cde Nheta first cut his teeth into leadership as Secretary for Administration for Zanu-PF Mufakose 2 district.
His work ethics saw him being elected Deputy Secretary for Lands for Harare Province before being elevated to the deputy Secretary for Security for Harare Youth and later Secretary for Security in the province, a position he still holds.
Cde Nheta becomes the first at such age to hold such an important party post in the province.
Come July 31, Cde Nheta will battle it out with outgoing Member of Parliament for the constituency Mr Willas Madzimure of the MDC-T, Thokozile Mavhunga of MDC, Zapu’s Albert Kisi and Heritage Mushayi an independent.
He is a successful entrepreneur who is into transport and clothing business and urges youths to take advantage of the opportunities that have been presented by Zanu-PF to start own companies and taste real empowerment.
“Our youths should cherish the vision of Cde Mugabe of opening up opportunities for young people. They should aim to be employers than die as workers. I have seen it and I am proud that I am my own employer. For nearly a decade I have been running my own companies and that has made me realise the importance of empowerment.
“I am also a successful farmer. Many people my age are asking me how I have managed but the answer is simple, I refused to work for others but create opportunities for others. This is the reason why our fathers went to war. That is what President Mugabe is also crying about.
“The colonial system denied us these opportunities through a cartel of racist laws and Cde Mugabe has restored them to us, lets us not lose the opportunity but use it wisely,” he said.
Cde Nheta applauded the move by President Mugabe and the party to allow youths to contest in the primaries and thus represent the party in the harmonised elections.
He also commended Zanu-PF for opening up the youth league saying it gives the young people an opportunity to learn from their seniors.
“That has been the most important decision by Zanu-PF as a party because it has the young people and opportunity learn from the masters.
“The youths are going through a learning curve when our leaders are still with us.
“This I am sure we will increase patriotism and love of the party among the younger generation that has been mistakenly said to be anti the party,” said.
Cde Nheta is married to gospel musician Mercy Mutsvene.
Online Reporter