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target of achieving that and returning the seat to the revolutionary party.”
These are the words of Zanu-PF aspiring National Assembly member for Mt Pleasant constituency Cde Jaison Passadi.
Mount Pleasant constituency covers two of Harare’s wards, Ward 17 and Ward 7.
Ward 17 comprises Mount Pleasant Park, Northwood, Mount Pleasant Heights, Vainona and Pomona while Ward 7 is made up of Avondale, Avondale West, Kensington, Alexandra Park, Belgravia, Strathaven and Gunhill suburbs.
Cde Passadi (35), an electrical engineer and entrepreneur, is married to Susan Passadi and the couple has three children.
He has been active in politics since 1995.
Cde Passadi is the Zanu-PF treasurer for Mount Pleasant District, having previously been district chair, and district secretary for defence.
Contesting at a national level for the first time, Cde Passadi said it was good that he was thrust into the ring to represent the party.
“It is an honour to fight to represent my party at such a level. I have to give back to the people for showing confidence in me. I can’t betray that trust. The only way I can repay them for choosing me from among many eligible representatives is to win the seat and continue with development projects that I have already initiated.”
Known among his legion of followers in the constituency as Igwe, Nigerian title for chief, Cde Passadi says he seeks to transform the position of MP to be truly a Man of the People.
If elected, his wish is to firstly improve the provision of social services in the area.
Cde Passadi said the fact that he was born in the constituency coupled by the fact that he has worked at different levels brought him in contact with people and he now understands what people need in Harare North.
He says the affluent in parts of the constituency want their security while the domestic workers and their families want survival.
Another pressing problem in the area, he said, were water shortages that have forced residents to buy water from vendors.
“We need to come up with a solution for the current water woes in the area. Residents cannot continue to buy water when they are also paying rates,” Cde Passadi said.
He said most of the people are domestic workers and get very little from their employers that they require to supplement their income.
“Unemployment is playing havoc within the area. Though this is a national problem it is imperative that as an MP I would start dealing with their problems at a local level.
“There is no way the country can wake up one day with enough jobs as the other parties are dreaming if you do not involve the people or start small.
“We are actually putting together a programme that will allow youths to come together in groups and come up with a project and seek funding from the indigenisation and empowerment funds.
“It is unfortunate that schools and health facilities in the area do not know your job title. Services cost the same despite being used by people from the two ends of the market.
“The fact is there are no schools for the poor, or the unemployed. Both children from the well to do and poor are charged the same.”
Cde Passadi said he has come up with a detailed plan of the projects to be instituted to help people in the constituency get extra income so that they pay for social services, education and their health.
“Some of the projects are already running and we have reports that people are happy with them. This is what has been missing in the area under the MDC-T leadership.
“As I speak, and with the assistance of well wishers we have already started renovating market stalls for use by our people in Groombridge and Pendennis shopping centres.
“We have also started establishing clubs of five people each to save money and start money generating programmes.
“They would then use these savings to start projects of their choice to supplement on their meagre incomes. I have no money to help them but I will help them start income-generating projects,” he said.
Cde Passadi said Zanu-PF plans to establish small market gardening projects in the less affluent parts of the constituency.
“The land has already been secured and each family will get at 300square/metres to grow some vegetables.
“This will reduce hunger problems while their produce would be marketed in the shops in our constituency.
“People must be taught how to fish and they should not expect to get the fish from anyone. That is my motto and I will ensure that this plan is a success,” he said.
Cde Passadi paid tribute to President Mugabe for spearheading the land reform programme saying efforts were underway to provide housing for underprivileged people in the area.
“Most of these domestic workers have no homes of their own. They usually end up homeless after leaving employment but as I speak land is being serviced for co-operatives to start construction house for their members.
“Some are already beneficiaries under the programme. We are taking our part in making sure the national housing policy becomes a success.
“It is good to belong to a party with a leadership like that of President Mugabe because it is easy to campaign with tangible things.
“I have already taken the constituency from the MDC but what I am doing now is consolidating the numbers. We want to win resoundingly and bury the ghost of the west once and for all,” he added.
Cde Passadi said he had his roots in Mount Pleasant and would do everything to improve the lives of the people.
He said he has capitalised on the continued absence from the area by former MDC-T legislator Mr Jameson Timba, who represented Mt Pleasant in the Seventh Parliament.
“He never took time to listen to the people’s concerns and with that Mr Timba has lost the people’s faith in the constituency.
“He has never addressed any meeting in the area, let alone the people’s concerns and that is not how to become a people’s representative. With the protest vote of yester-year over, Mr Timba and his MDC-T are history in Mt Pleasant.
“Our people want an MP who has a relationship with them — not someone who is like an absentee landlord who only appears to collect his rentals.
“Mr Timba only appeared when seeking to be voted. I think the comfort of the Government made him lose touch with the people and that has cost him the people’s trust.
“For the past four years, he was not available and should not cry foul now that the people of the constituency have rejected him.
“As a servant of the people what I am doing is just obeying what my people have asked me to do for them — to represent them in Parliament this time.”
Cde Passadi urged people to come in their numbers and support the party of the country’s liberation, the party of their empowerment.
“President Mugabe is our man and his people should continue to guide us if we are to cement our independence,” he said.
Online Reporter