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Limukani Ncube, Editor
“Political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also is crucial to building stable and peaceful societies and developing policies that respond to the specific needs of the younger generations. The fanatical interest of a large number of young people to contest the elections under Zanu PF banner testifies to the revolutionary Party’s transformational and reformative agenda, including its ability to assimilate within its ranks all people from different social strata.
The youths seem to have been galvanised in embracing a new sense of purpose given the various initiatives that we have been witnessing being implemented by the Government. In the past, many tended to believe that their voices were not going to be heard or that they will not be taken seriously even if they are heard. But since the coming of the Second Republic, their rights have been given the necessary knowledge and capacity to participate in a meaningful way at all levels,” wrote Grace Zvavamwe, in an article published online in March.
Against that background, there has been an endorsement of the participation of young people in matters of national development, and President Mnangagwa has repeatedly urged young people to further the national interest. Young people have been urged to join the ruling Zanu PF in numbers and continue with the spirit to better the country and those who live in it. Such a clarion call resulted in large numbers of young people stepping forward to contest in the party primary elections held recently, and a good number came out victorious.
The outcome of the primary elections presented the electorate with a huge number of new faces representing the party. That was also illustrated in the Bulawayo province where a majority of parliamentary and council candidates are new faces and youths. This is evidence that the November 2017 Operation Restore Legacy “injected new blood, and new energy” into the party.
“What . . . really distinguishes this generation . . . is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of being able to change things by one’s own efforts, “said Hannah Arendt, a political theorist, writing about youthful idealism, quoted in ublicseminar.org.
The ruling party, therefore, expects the young blood to work in unison with the old guard to pursue the ideals and vision of the revolutionary party. The energy of youthfulness must be channelled in the right direction, guided by the ethos propagated by greyheads still gifted with long life in the ruling party.
The new blood can take a leaf from Father Zimbabwe, the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo, as illustrated by Tinashe Mukori, in an article titled “Zimbabwe: Remembering Father Zimbabwe Nkomo – Lessons for youths from his legacy”
“The great lesson that youths have to embrace, ingrain and engrave in their patriotic hearts today is that unity is one of the primary, extremely significant ingredients in the development of our nation in pursuit of Vision 2030. Unity begets peace and tranquillity, which are vital elements in the well-being of a nation. If we are to succeed as a country, it is vital that unity, tolerance and selflessness find abode in the citadels of our hearts. It is only when we are united under one national shared vision that we can overcome anything that comes our way as a nation and achieve the overarching aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe even in the presence of hurtful and pernicious illegal sanctions.”
In Bulawayo, there were many notable new names like musician Sandra Ndebele, who will represent Zanu PF in Ward 20, Pelandaba Tshabalala constituency council elections. Another young cadre is the party’s provincial information and publicity secretary, Cde Archie Chiponda, who will stand in Ward 5. Cde Chiponda (36) is the youngest member of the Bulawayo Provincial Main Wing and was previously the Provincial Youth Vice Chairman between 2013 and 2019. He holds an Honours Degree in Economics and Finance from Durham University as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He has ten years of experience working in government, specifically dealing with economic issues and issues of development and investment. His political motto is “Serve people not politics”.
Of note is that only Cde Raji Modi managed to get a chance to represent the party again, after winning the 2018 elections. He will represent the party in the Bulawayo South constituency. The other constituencies have new faces with Cdes Tendayi Charuka (Bulawayo Central), Nkosana Mkandla (Bulawayo North), Professor Mthuli Ncube (Cowdray Park), Brian Samuriwo (Emakhandeni Luveve), Linda Chinamano (Entumbane Njube), Butholezwe Ndlovu (Lobengula Magwegwe), Tavengwa Zidya (Nketa), Freedom Murechu (Nkulumane), Cecilia Verenga (Pelandaba Tshabalala), Pumulani Nsingo (Pumula) and Admire Tonderai Masikati (Mpopoma Mzilikazi).
In the 2018 elections, Zanu PF in Bulawayo was represented by fairly older cadres who had been in the party’s top brass for long like Cdes Alderman David Ndlovu (Nkulumane), Elifas Mashaba (Nketa Emganwini), Mlungisi Moyo (Bulawayo Central), Enerst Shora (Bulawayo East), Joseph Tshuma (Pelandaba Mpopoma), Maidei Mpala (Lobengula Njube), Tafuma Zhou (Entumbane Emakhandeni), Pumula (Khumbulani Mpofu), Headman Sibanda (Magwegwe), Tshinga Dube (Makokoba), Raji Modi (Bulawayo South), Garikai Zonde (Luveve).
From the 2018 list, Cde Modi remains a candidate in the House of Assembly, with other senior party cadres like Cdes Dube, Mashaba, Moyo and Ndlovu, moving to contest for senatorial seats. Addressing party youths in Harare last week, President Mnangagwa said he was pleased that many youths participated in the party’s primary elections.
“I am pleased that many of you participated in the party’s recently concluded internal democratic processes and you were successful to represent the party at both local authority and House of Assembly levels. Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe. Meanwhile, I urge you to remain alive to the fact that in our colossal mass party, there are no losers and winners. It is the party which ultimately wins during our internal democratic processes. The party and the people always come first.
This is the discipline that must be exhibited by all card-carrying members. You are, therefore, directed to close ranks to achieve the victory of the party,” said President Mnangagwa.
Following are brief biographies of some Zanu PF Bulawayo province party candidates in the 2023 parliamentary elections.
Mpopoma Mzilikazi Constituency
The candidate is Cde Admire Tonderai Masikati (32) and married. For academic qualifications, he holds a Master of Science degree in International Affairs, BA degree in History, Certificate in Youth Leadership, and Certificate in Public Relations. He started politics in 2003, and has held various portfolios in the Youth League from District Committee Member, Commissar, Chairman, Provincial Chairman Children of War Veterans Bulawayo Province, National Member Children of War Veterans, Production and Labour; Deputy Political Commissar Youth League and is now Secretary for Administration in the Youth League.
Entumbane Njube Constituency
The party candidate, Cde Linda Chinamano (27), was born and bred in Bulawayo’s Entumbane suburb. Her active political journey started in 2010 when she became a cell member at the Gushungo district in Entumbane and from 2013 to 2015 she became the youth chairperson. From 2015 to 2019 she was a provincial member as secretary for gender and culture and in 2019 to 2020 became vice chairperson of the district. In 2022 she was elected deputy secretary for administration in the province and last year became national deputy secretary for transport in the youth league.
Nketa Constituency
Cde Tavengwa “Carlos Vaiton” Zidya (42) is a member of Zanu PF under DCC 5, Ward 24 Hananda District. He became actively involved in community politics as a member of the Youth league and is active in the mobilisation of youths from various areas in society. He is also a Deacon in church. He is a successful businessman and is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that young people are successfully offered employment in government agencies and the private sector as well as incorporated into skills training so that they are capacitated to run their own businesses.
Lobengula Magwegwe Constituency
Butholezwe Ndlovu (42), a Marketing and Tourism graduate, was born and bred in Magwegwe and became active in Zanu PF at an early age. He has served in the Bulawayo provincial executive and is in the main board executive as the Secretary for Science and Technology. He established a landscaping company and candy bar project that has benefited over 300 youths. In addition, he was instrumental in setting up community gardens in the constituency, with the biggest, Mother and Child garden project benefiting over 100 people. He is also involved in other community projects to uplift the lives of the youths, women, and the vulnerable.
Bulawayo North Constituency
Nkosana Mkandla, is an academic and businessman who holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Notre Dame – South Bend, Indiana, USA and Bachelor of Business Administration – Accountancy degree from Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. He is a senior partner and director at a local company with interests in business development, financial analysis, and accountancy. He has served on various corporate boards including the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA). He has over a ten-year career as a corporate budgeting and planning expert, emphasizing in project control and product line financial analysis at an American Fortune 500 Company. He is the Zanu PF DCC chairman for Area One and has served as district chairman for Hebert Ushewokunze district and chairman of Khumalo branch.
Bulawayo Central Constituency
Cde Tendayi Charuka is under DCC 1 and is Ward One chairman Greens District. He is also the chairman of the Affirmative Action Group Bulawayo province, patron of Vendors For Economic Development (ED) as well as Single Mothers For ED. On the business front, he is the chairman of the Zimbabwe Projects Housing Trust. He is an elder in church. His passion is to ensure that young people are given business skills to be self-reliant and that employment opportunities for them are opened in government agencies and the private sector.
Online Reporter