admin
Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza has come of age from the days he started mastering politics as leader of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) in the 1990s.
For his entire profession as a journalist, he acted lawfully and ethically when working at the Financial Gazette, although supportive of the Government.
He would serve as the ZUJ national executive member where he represented the needs of members of the Fourth Estate.
Some of the renowned professionals that he worked with included former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation staffer Tapfuma Machakaire and the late ZUJ secretary-general Foster Dongozi.
Cde Paradza is now Makonde constituency legislator on a Zanu PF ticket and the party’s Makonde District Co-ordinating Committee chairman.
Speaking during the burial of Headman Machiridza (Tobias Bindira) in his constituency recently, Cde Paradza recalled how the late traditional leader would visit him while he was still working as a journalist in Harare, trying to convince him to be the area’s legislator.
Cde Paradza is originally from the Hombwe area in Makonde constituency, where he witnessed the liberation war as a minor.
“In 1995 when I was still practicing journalism, Headman Machiridza and Mr Sungano Tsungai approached me in Harare where they registered their intentions of supporting me through thick and thin as Makonde’s next Member of Parliament,” he said.
“I was a journalist then, a renowned one for that matter, and being active in politics was not in my veins. I would critique and quiz politicians in my articles as required by the profession.
“By that time, the late Dr Swithun Mombeshora was the Member of Parliament and I was blunt that I could not stand against him.”
Cde Paradza further narrated how the persuasion from the headman and his counterpart lasted for a week as he feared penetrating the murky waters where he was required to use not only words, but funding, to convince the electorate.
“We approached Headmen Matashu, Chigaro, and Musora and lastly, Chief Nemakonde,” he said.
Deputy Minister Paradza believes the gods of his land were behind his political expedience, adding that he will continue to lead and represent people from his area.
“The gods are behind my leadership, no one can remove me if they still want me to be the MP,” he said.
Deputy Minister Paradza remembered how Headman Machiridza and the late Hurungwe traditional leader, Chief Mudzimu, helped him to campaign across Makonde constituency following the death of Cde Mombeshora.
He became MP for Makonde constituency in 2003.
Last year, KP, as Cde Paradza is affectionately known, was appointed Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister by President Mnangagwa following the removal of Dr Energy Mutodi.
Various media organisations welcomed his appointment, applauding President Mnangagwa for choosing one of their own for the post.
KP is generally regarded as a friend of the media and has defended media freedom rights and reforms.
The veteran scribe served as a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, where, as a veteran journalist, he helped defend media and journalists’ rights.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe welcomed his appointment and wished him well.
He has made it a point that he participates at media gatherings across the country, with the Mashonaland West media fraternity having the privilege of sharing and conversing with him frequently.
Deputy Minister Paradza has also been a regular at the ZUJ provincial media awards that run for the 10th edition this year.
He made headlines recently when he called for the setting up of a National Employment Council for the media and challenged media houses to improve welfare of media practitioners, amid revelations that poor remuneration was exacerbating corruption among journalists.
Cde Paradza remains the first choice in his constituency, with villagers and communities throwing their weight behind his candidature in the next year’s election.
“He has been with us for long fighting for Makonde’s development,” said Mr Wonder Bhakiti, a villager. “The development of Alaska-Sanyati Bridge Road has been one of his priorities and while it could be taking long, we appreciate his efforts in making sure that it gets the preferences it deserves.”
Cde Paradza has received plaudits in his constituency from women who lauded the construction of health care facilities using Constituency Development Funds, including Chipfuwamiti, Chijaka, and Nyamatanda clinics, while a mothers’ waiting shelter at Hombwe Clinic has helped reduce maternity deaths.
He is a renowned commercial farmer who was allocated a farm in Mhangura under the land reform exercise whose purpose was to address socio-economic imbalances that had prevailed in the country for over a century.
Online Reporter