Sundaymail Editor
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZANU PF’s candidate for the April 12 National Assembly by-election for Glen View South Cde Tsitsi Tawomhera says she will launch a vigorous campaign to reclaim the seat, which has been held by the opposition for much of the past two decades.
The 37-year-old ZANU PF Youth League national executive member won the primary election last Sunday to secure a ticket to represent the revolutionary party in the by-election.
The seat fell vacant following the death of local legislator Mr Grandmore Hakata, of the CCC, in January. While the opposition has been winning the seat regularly since 2000, ZANU PF’s Pius Madzinga won a by-election in 2015 to win the constituency.
In an interview with the Zimpapers Politics Hub, Cde Tawomhera said the time is ripe for ZANU PF to reclaim the seat, as the opposition has regularly failed to deliver on promises made to the constituents.
“For a long time, the opposition has been dominant in Glen View South constituency but they have constantly failed the people. All the opposition Members of Parliament we have had in the past two decades did not report back to the people; there was no feedback.
“They remained quiet whilst we have faced numerous challenges such as cholera outbreaks, bad roads and a general lack of development.”
Having grown up in Glen View, Cde Tawomhera said she understands the major challenges facing the people in the constituency and wants to take the area to its former glory.
She said part of her campaign will include comprehensive engagement with the community.
“The opposition MPs hardly engaged with the community and if I am elected, I want to change that,” she said.
“I did my primary and secondary education here in Glen View. Back in those days, our area was beautiful. We had good roads, reliable water supplies and well-maintained recreation parks. Some of these areas are now an eyesore.
“I want to bring back that beautiful side of Glen View and represent all groups of people, including the youth, women and people with disabilities. I also want to fight drug and substance abuse, which has caused so many young men and women from the constituency to fail to reach their potential.”
Cde Tawomhera said her campaign will include door-to-door engagements.
“We’re preparing for the official campaign launch, but we understand the importance of immediate action. Therefore, we’re initiating a focused door-to-door campaign this Monday (tomorrow) to build early momentum.”
She said projects being implemented by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa should spur the people of Glen View South to vote for ZANU PF.
“The ZANU PF Government’s development trajectory is guided by the National Development Strategy 1, a development plan that embraces political, economic and social spheres towards sustainable development of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’.
“The projects being spearheaded by ZANU PF will carry the day come elections. Projects such as the Trabablas Interchange, which is located not far from our constituency, show that Zimbabwe is on the path to massive transformation.
“We are saying enough is enough; let’s bury the opposition come election day. It’s possible as long as we work as a united front,” she said.
She pledged to work hand in glove with the party’s candidates whom she defeated in the primary election.
Cde Tawomhera said her political career began in her teenage years, when she joined the ruling party as an ordinary cell member, before she rose through the ranks to become district youth chairperson in Glen View in 2011 and subsequently ZANU PF Harare province Youth League secretary for business and liaison in 2021.
In 2022, she was elected into the ZANU PF national Youth League executive as deputy secretary for environment and tourism.
Her father is a war veteran whilst her mother was a war collaborator.
Online Reporter