Vote out opposition, Norton urbanites told

Conrad Mupesa 

Mashonaland West Bureau

Norton residents should vote for Zanu PF to help transform their lives, the ruling party’s secretary for finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa said yesterday.

He was speaking at Ngoni Stadium during the party’s mobilisation rally where he was standing in for the party’s chairman, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. 

Norton Town is currently run by an opposition led council which has failed to bring development to the area despite having been in control for over two decades. 

Cde Chinamasa challenged Norton residents to vote resoundingly for President Mnangagwa and all Zanu PF candidates, amid commitment to regularise settlements issues. 

Norton was hit by land barons, especially in the Kingsdale area and this now needs to be sorted out and regularised where possible. 

People face eviction because there is a land owner, but Zanu PF sees the solution as being a land swop so the residents can stay and the owner has alternative land.

“Opposition parties have failed the nation. They have destroyed our yesteryear sunshine cities through poor service delivery, we need to address that,” said Cde Chinamasa.

“We promise to investigate the issues at Kingsdale and regularise the settlement by giving the land owner another piece of land and allow the people to settle without worries.

“I am going to approach responsible authorities over burning issue of title deeds in Old Location, Katanga, Ngoni, Nharira, and water works, so that residents get their title deeds.” 

Addressing the same bumper crowd, Zanu PF Politburo member and secretary for health, Cde Douglas Mombeshora, said the party was concerned about the provision of water as shortages exposed people to diseases like cholera. 

“So, we need to have our own plant as Norton, this can only happen if you vote for Zanu PF,” he said.

Norton buys water treated in Harare, yet is close to the largest reservoir on the Manyame River and could run its own treatment works as a result. 

Zanu PF provincial chairman, Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka reiterated calls for a peaceful electoral process amid assurance of a resounding victory for the ruling party.

Norton outgoing independent Member of Parliament, Mr Temba Mliswa, showed up at the rally clad in the ruling party regalia, despite presenting his nomination papers for the August 23 elections as an independent.

Zanu PF targets to win back urban constituencies and council seats in Mashonaland West that include Norton, Kadoma, Chinhoyi and Kariba.