adminMidlands Bureau Chief
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association secretary-general, Cde Shadreck Makombe believes the time is now ripe for former freedom fighters to take an active and leading role in national politics. In an interview yesterday, Cde Makombe (54) who in today’s Zanu-PF Midlands primaries will be eyeing the Gweru/Chirumanzu seat as a provincial councillor, said Zimbabwe can only realise the aspirations of the liberation struggle through allowing more former freedom fighters into leadership structures. His ultimate goal is to be the first provincial chairperson to run Midlands and help foster development in the vast province.
“We want people to realise our aspirations, what we went to war for. For example, people now have land but most do not have farming implements and inputs. People have to capacitated. We also have other good policies like the economic empowerment and indigenisation. People now have shares while others are being developed through the community share ownership trusts.
The programme is going on well but there is a challenge of equitable distribution of some of these resources. We need to work on equitable distribution as places like Gokwe, for example, do not have platinum. People in such areas may not benefit from these programmes, if we do not revise the distribution patterns,” he said.
The war vets national secretary-general, who is a PhD candidate and a holder of two other first degrees, seats on a number of boards. He said he would come up with programmes deliberately designed to end unemployment and poverty in the province. Cde Makombe said he had experience in research and would use his skills to benefit the Midlands people.
He said he was confident of winning the primaries and eventually become the Midlands chairperson. Under the new constitution, provincial chairpersons will replace governors.
“We were approached by the people as war veterans to contest in these elections. People are a determining force, even during the liberation struggle that was the case. I am confident of winning because I was chosen by the people. I was approached by civic and traditional leaders and have an impeachable track record in leadership.
“The various positions I hold show the level of confidence that people have in me. We will excel in these elections as former freedom fighters because we were with the people even during the liberation war days. They approached us as an organisation,” said Cde Makombe.
He said Sadc war veteran bodies were working on programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and he would tap from them to help develop the province.
“I also want to hail the Zanu-PF party for being a democratic organisation. Every member will have an opportunity to vote in these primaries. I urge all party supporters to come in their numbers for their voices to be heard,” said Cde Makombe.
Online Reporter