adminMudzi West will hold a by-election on June 10 to fill a seat that fell vacant following the death of Zanu-PF stalwart Cde Aquilina Katsande on 28 March this year. Cde Magna Mudyiwa will represent Zanu-PF in the by-election. In this installment, we focus on her to get an insight of her plans for the constituency.
Q: Who is Magna Mudyiwa, what is your background in politics?
A: Magna Mudyiwa is a devout revolutionary and pan-Africanist who believes in improving the lives of Zimbabwean people. I joined Zanu-PF when I left school to join the liberation struggle in our rural areas. I had the passion for politics and I also had the desire to liberate the country, that’s why I joined Zanu-PF, it is a party with vision. After the war I joined Government and I was working in the President’s Office until 2011. During that time I could not actively participate in politics as I was in Government. After I retired, l joined politics full-time. I participated in the primary elections in Mudzi in 2013 but I lost to Acquelina Katsande. However, I remained devoted to the party and I believe my time has come now.
Q: What has been the inspiration to contest in Mudzi?
A: I have the passion to work with people, that’s the first and like what I have mentioned before I have the desire to improve lives. The fact that I had reached my retirement age at work also worked as an extra push because I wanted to find something which keeps me busy.
Q: What do you promise the constituency in terms of development and welfare of your people?
A: There are a number of things that I would want to improve in the Mudzi constituency. People are walking long distance to access clinics, schools and other facilities and that’s not right. I will also work tirelessly to repair the roads in the area, I would like to build more schools and more hospitals. It is also my desire to start various income-generating projects such as poultry and horticulture so that the people of Mudzi can raise money to send their children to school while improving their diet at the same time.
Q: Some might argue that you are a political novice, and that Mudzi may be too big a shoe, how do you answer them?
A: I do not believe that Mudzi is that big for me, for the time that I have been in the party structures I have gained a lot of experience and I hope that will help me do my duties for the constituency. The fact that I lost in the primary elections the last time and that I won this time around shows that people now believe that I am ready for the challenge.
Q: Your message to the people of Mudzi West?
A: I promise to work well with the people of Mudzi if I win the election. I also want to encourage them to continue working hard.
Q: What is your prediction, come June 10?
A: I will definitely win! There is nothing stopping us, I will win, I am confident of that.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter