malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
ZANU PF candidate for the Mabvuku-Tafara National Assembly seat Cde Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya says he is confident of winning the December 9 by-election after getting a second bite of the cherry due to recent recalls by the opposition CCC.
Mabvuku-Tafara is the only constituency that will be contested in Harare province in the by-elections. In Bulawayo province, by-elections will be held in Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and Nketa constituencies; while in Matabeleland North, the polls will be in Binga North and Lupane East. Beitbridge West was the only constituency that was affected in Matabeleland South.
The nine constituencies fell vacant after interim CCC secretary-general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu recalled the party’s legislators, claiming they ceased to be members.
On Wednesday, Cde Sakupwanya, who initially lost to CCC’s Mr Febion Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, launched his campaign at a rally at the Chizhanje Business Centre in Mabvuku.
“We need to win this seat for ZANU PF because CCC has proved to be disorganised and incompetent,” he said.
“ZANU PF is bringing about development to the people through various empowerment projects. The CCC is offering nothing to the people of this constituency. We are doing this because we are inspired by President Mnangagwa’s Vision 30 mantra of leaving no one and no place behind. In the same vein, if I win the seat, I will leave no one and no place behind in Mabvuku-Tafara.”
The aspiring National Assembly member has been sponsoring various projects, such as road construction, boreholes and income-generating projects, in the constituency.
“I am doing this because I have genuine love for the people of Mabvuku-Tafara. In this campaign, my team and I are going to go to each and every ward to speak to the people and understand their needs. I will assist them, just like I have always done,” he said.
“I want my story to be an inspiration to other youths from Mabvuku and Tafara, that you can start from humble beginnings in the ghetto to become whatever you wish to be. That is my dream.”
In March 2022, Cde Sakupwanya won the Harare Ward 21 council seat in Mabvuku through a by-election. Since his first win was through a by-election, he added, the December 9 vote could be yet another fortuitous opportunity.
“It was not my will that we would contest in this by-election. When I was a councillor, I won after a by-election. I am going to win again through a by-election. Perhaps this is just how God wanted this to be.”
At the same rally, ZANU PF Harare province chairperson Cde Goodwills Masimirembwa said the province is fully behind Cde Sakupwanya. “We lost the constituency by about 15 000 votes to 12 000 in August this year. This was not a huge number and I am confident that this time we will get it right and close the gap. Cde Sakupwanya deserves to win because he is the right candidate to take this constituency to greater heights.”
At the campaign rally, Cde Sakupwanya also promised to support various income-generating projects.
Online Reporter