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Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Elections Desk
Cde Francis Garikai Mukwangwariwa, ZANU PF aspiring National Assembly candidate for Zvimba East, says he is committed to improve the livelihoods of people in his constituency through development projects that leave no one and no place behind.
He will square off against CCC candidate Mr Oliver Mutasa.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Cde Mukwangwariwa said he is championing inclusive empowerment projects in the constituency.
“I have plans to make sure that people have better-quality livelihoods through leading by example. Suburbs such as Granary, White Cliff, Vantage, Consortium, Riddle Ridge and Mt Hampden should be made better places through a good road network and clean tap water,” he said.
“As I speak, I have managed to upgrade the road network in Zvimba East so that people find it easy to traverse these areas.”
He said he intends to assist in the regularisation of undesignated settlements and provision of title deeds to beneficiaries.
“In the agricultural communities, I will fight for offer letters in areas like Warwickshire, where they have stayed for 23 years without offer letters. We also have people who are living in Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle suburbs who need title to their residential stands,” he said.
Cde Mukwangwariwa, who is also a ZANU PF Central Committee member, said he is inspired by President Mnangagwa’s pro-development policies.
He has since bankrolled several projects to complement the work of the Second Republic.
Road rehabilitation
Touched by the plight of the people who were being charged exorbitant fares to travel short distances within and outside the constituency because of a poor road network, the aspiring Member of Parliament took it upon himself to shoulder the burden.
In May, he engaged a contractor to rehabilitate the road that connects the suburbs of Riddle Ridge, Granary Park, White Cliff, Vanguard and Mt Hampden.
It is believed that after the roads were rehabilitated, transport operators reduced their fares, which were pegged at US$1,50 or US$2, to US$1 during peak hours and US50 cents off-peak.
Education and social protection
“I have paid half of the school fees for each and every learner in schools in my constituency without looking at their parents’ political affiliation,” he said.
He also claims to have paid medical bills for vulnerable people and provided food and transport at funerals in the constituency. He is also in the process of connecting electricity to the White Cliff community, which had not been linked to the national grid for over two decades. The project involves erecting power lines and buying a transformer, which is expected to cost more than US$11 000.
Health
Plans are reportedly underway to construct health centres in the constituency for people to avoid travelling long distances to the nearest health facilities.
Cde Mukwangwariwa is also mobilising equipment for health facilities, as well as rehabilitating a number of medical facilities.
Sport and recreation
The businessman has been sponsoring youth soccer and netball teams with sports attire and prize money in the constituency to not only promote healthy lifestyles but to also prevent drug and substance abuse.
Fishing also employs a sizeable number of youths in the constituency, where more than 200 fishermen have been empowered with fishing equipment.
Water and sanitation
Cde Mukwangwariwa has reportedly drilled 16 boreholes across the constituency. These boreholes will be equipped with solar-powered pumps and reservoirs (overhead tanks) to provide tap water.
He is also working on sewer reticulation in the same suburbs.
Votes for President Mnangagwa
The aspiring National Assembly member believes it is of utmost importance for party members to join hands in campaigning for the five million plus votes that ZANU PF is angling to deliver for President Mnangagwa. At the belated 43rd Independence Day celebrations that he hosted for the constituency, Cde Mukwangwariwa invited Cde Kudakwashe Decide Manhazvi, who had contested against him in the primary elections, to the event and the two pledged to put the party first and work together.
Online Reporter