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Zimpapers Elections Desk
ZANU PF continues to make inroads in Harare Metropolitan, winning seats in a province that was at one point an opposition stronghold. Zimpapers Election Desk’s Joseph Madzimure (JM) caught up with newly elected Member of Parliament for Epworth South constituency Cde Taedzwa Mutana (TM), who opened up on his win.
JM: Congratulations for being elected Member of Parliament for Epworth South Constituency. The public would want to know who Taedzwa Mutana is.
TM: Thank you so much. To start with, I am a ZANU PF Central Committee member, the highest decision making body of the ruling party, the principal organ of the Congress which implements all policies, resolutions, directives, decisions and programmes enunciated by Congress. Besides being a politician, I am also a successful businessman. I operate a number of businesses in Epworth and I stay in Epworth.
I am really humbled by the trust bestowed upon me by ZANU PF members in Epworth South and I am ready to deliver and fulfil the promises made during the campaigning period. I am humbled by the trust bestowed on me by the people of Epworth South constituency.
JM: A number of politicians do not disclose their marital status when they are in public office. Are you at liberty to open up on that one?
TM: Yes, why not? I am 47 years old, a father of nine and happily married.
JM: What’s in stock for people in Epworth during your term of office?
TM: We will inject more finances towards youth projects as a form of employment creation. I have set a budget for youth in every ward to make sure they start income generating projects. There is also need for the youths to be trained in entrepreneurship so that they can run their projects successfully.
We do not want our youths to abuse drugs and we need to keep them busy. I feel there is need to empower women and girls so they are economically independent. This will curb prostitution among girls and also reduce domestic violence in the community. Women need start-ups for their different projects.
We want to bridge the gap between Epworth residents and those in Harare.
For those who voted for the CCC candidate, I am now their MP. Let’s embrace each other. Elections are over, we must focus on developing our country. As Zanu PF we will be carrying out our developmental projects and that will enable us to win back the hearts of the people.
JM: What is the secret behind your victory in the just ended elections?
TM: President Mnangagwa, who is the First Secretary of the party, managed to bring joy to Epworth residents when he launched the historic title deeds and settlement regularisation programme. President Mnangagwa made it Government’s priority to deal with the title deeds issue after many residents had fallen prey to land barons.
The days when people would lose their hard-earned savings to unscrupulous merchants and land barons who sell land without any documentation are now behind us. Government has demonstrated that it has the political will, technical skills and resources needed to regularise informal settlements and issue title deeds.
More than 265 title deeds, of the 11 200 that have already been processed, were handed over to property owners in Epworth in Harare. Of course, the exercise is set to be rolled out in all the country’s 10 provinces.
JM: What is the importance of the title deeds?
TM: The title deeds are an empowerment tool that will provide security of tenure for beneficiaries and protect them from land barons. The programme is one of the many responsive interventions by the Second Republic to improve the quality of life and livelihoods of the people. The title deeds issued are an important empowerment tool and a legal document that gives beneficiaries several rights, which include ownership and security of tenure, and disposal and transfer of ownership from one person to another.
The title deeds also outline land boundaries of the property and other related conditions. I urge all the families receiving title deeds to keep the documents in a safe and secure place.
ZANU PF, through the leadership of President Mnangagwa, initiated a number of policies which made our campaigning easier.
JM: What did you also do as a candidate to win the hearts of the people in Epworth?
TM: I am an Epworth resident. I stay in Epworth, eat with the people in Epworth. I am very close to them. I know their challenges at family level. We are together on a daily basis, during the day and night. Whatever problems they face; I am ready to assist as much as I can.
JM: Epworth is known for harbouring criminals. Your take on that going forward?
TM: Government recently opened Epworth Magistrates Court which has brought relief to residents of the small settlement who now have access to justice near their homes.
The development means more cases will now be reported and tried to their logical conclusion, unlike in the past when some cases went unreported upon realisation that even if the suspect was to be arrested, the complainant would not be able to raise bus fare to go and attend trial. Others abandoned their cases midway as resources to continue pursuing the case ran out.
JM: What does the future hold for Epworth South residents?
TM: A number of developmental activities for Epworth South are lined up. In the next five years, the constituency would be the envy of many people. We are going to work with all like-minded people to turn Epworth into a modern town. I am prepared to work every minute for the development of the constituency in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind in terms of development.
I would like to thank the electorate for voting for me and the party ZANU PF. Epworth South will never be the same again. We will change the face of Epworth for the better. We will set up proper infrastructure. We want the people of Epworth to own houses.
Online Reporter