Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba
LONG before seeking a parliamentary seat, Zanu-PF Chirumanzu-Zibagwe candidate Cde Jacob Chokururama championed the construction of a clinic and dip tanks and rehabilitation of roads in the constituency.
A member of the Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee, Cde Chokururama recently beat the incumbent, Cde Prosper Machando and Zibagwe Rural District Council chairperson Cde Tichaona Rogers Nhari during the party’s internal polls.
Born in the Zaka, Masvingo province in 1971, Cde Chokururama relocated to Kwekwe District around 1984; joined Zanu-PF structures and rose through the ranks to become a Midlands Provincial member for three terms.
“To be honest I started getting involved in assisting the people of Chirumanzu-Zibagwe way back and I owe it to President Mnangagwa whom I observed and watched as he assisted the people all the time. The First Lady Amai Mnangagwa is also my source of inspiration in terms of assisting everyone. So when the people asked me to contest in the primary elections I said ‘Okay’ because they had told me that they had been charmed by what I had already done for them before they asked me to contest,” he said.
Cde Chokururama also oversaw the construction of Melsonia Clinic in Ward 1.
Chirumanzu-Zibagwe is characterised by resettlement areas, he said, hence the need to construct more schools and clinics so that people don’t walk long distances to access the facilities.
“We have done Melsonia Clinic that will serve the people of Ward 1. The clinic is still to be equipped as we are working on putting in the best equipment so that people don’t travel elsewhere for medical assistance. The clinic will be furnished in the next month,” he said.
Cde Chokururama said they have constructed five dip tanks two of which are in Melsonia, one in Sherwood Ward 31, the other two in Rockville Ward 2 and Ward 3.
A lot of cattle, he said, were dying due to lack of dipping facilities, a development which required investment in many dip tanks.
“We had a situation where farmers lost about 67 cattle to January disease and we said why can’t we spread around dip tanks so that from any area, farmers have access to a dip tank and that’s just what we did with the members of the community and now we have functioning dip tanks. We anticipate a decrease in January disease and other diseases that affect the well-being of cattle,” he said.
In Maryvale area, Cde Chokururama said working with the members of the community, they are adding a third classroom block at Maryvale Primary School.
“All these programmes are community-driven, we work together for the betterment of the constituency. We started working on the block from the foundation in February. Now we are raising the walls before roofing. It should be ready for learning by the time the term ends,” he said.
He said the school has many learners who could not all be accommodated in the two classroom blocks.
“A lot of the children are coming from a wide catchment area and this is work in progress as we work hard to ensure a conducive working environment for our children,” said Mr Chokururama.
He said President Mnangagwa has been pioneering the Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo philosophy – a philosophy that must be complemented by patriotic Zimbabweans.
As such, he said they have also rehabilitated roads in the constituency.
“It is the people who day to day need such services who should complement the Government’s efforts in improving our livelihoods. We are in our small way showing that it is us the people who can build the Zimbabwe we want,” said Mr Chokururama.
The Secretary for Transport for the ruling party in Kwekwe said with President Mnangagwa at the helm, the country was destined for success.
Cde Chokururama said Chirumanzu District is home to Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) which is clear evidence that the people and the country will benefit tremendously from the company.
“When the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa is working flat out putting in an enabling environment and policies for such companies to grow, we should also complement the Government by doing the little we can do for our own livelihoods,” he said.
Disco is a subsidiary of Tsingshan Holdings, the world’s largest stainless steel producer which is building Africa’s biggest integrated steel plant, whose first blast furnace is expected to be switched on in September next year.
The steel plant was commissioned by President Mnangagwa paving the way for construction works that started last year.
The US$1 billion project is envisaged to have a positive multiplier effect on the economy, which would be felt in both upstream and downstream industries.
The plant will produce 1,2 million tonnes of steel annually and create over 10 000 jobs.
Online Reporter