adminThis was said by the wife of the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, Councillor Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu.
Addressing hundreds of villagers at rallies held in Dr Mpofu’s home area of Chidobe and Jambezi in Hwange District on Saturday and Sunday where she donated 60 tonnes of maize, Clr Mpofu said women should be in decision making positions in order to ensure socio-economic growth of their communities and the country.
Clr Mpofu, the chairperson of Umguza Rural District Council, said she was going to assist women with funds to start projects.
“As women, you should stand up and take up influential positions. Where there is a woman, there is development. We need that 50-50 representation and that can be achieved if we show interest starting from our wards going up. Let’s stand up and be counted,” said Clr Mpofu.
She said during the Copac outreach programme, women advocated for the 50-50 gender representation in all influential positions, a constitutional right she said should be achieved.
“We should do away with the dependency syndrome, we cannot be asking for money to buy salt or mealie-meal every time from our husbands. We should play our part in our homes and in our communities. That is why I want to assist you to go to countries like Mozambique or Zambia to buy stuff for resale. Women in Umguza have done it and are claiming their place in the community
“So I will give you money to start the buying and selling business,” said Clr Mpofu drawing applause from the gathering.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Mpofu said it was high time Zanu-PF claimed its rightful place in Matabeleland.
He said the electorate was suffering because of wrong choices made during previous elections.
Constituencies in Hwange District are all under MDC-T in both the Senate and House of Assembly.
“Right now the people you voted for have deserted you. They do not come to you, the youths are unemployed. Your MP represents a party that is associated with the whites, the party that carries the ideas of the people who once colonised us, a party that is advocating for gay rights, what is that? The hotels in Victoria Falls are hiring labour from outside the province and your children are unemployed.
You need to choose someone from Zanu-PF, a party of the people, a party that brought independence to this country,” he said.
Dr Mpofu also said the MDC formations were afraid of him as he is untouchable.
“I have a big body frame, a big party position and I am a big Minister, no one can do anything to me, even the MDC know that. I swear I can defeat the opposition in any constituency, which I stand in. Let them challenge me anywhere in the country and I will show them. Even my wife MaMnkandla (Sikhanyisiwe) will not be defeated by the MDC, if she stands as a candidate,” said Dr Mpofu.
He said his constituency in Umguza was a no go area for the MDC.
Said Dr Mpofu: “They are afraid to challenge me in that constituency, because it’s all Zanu-PF, even councillors are all Zanu-PF. I don’t think they will field any candidate there because there is no MDC member. I admit MDC once defeated me in 2000 and I was shocked. We went back to the drawing board and found the winning formula and I will never lose to the MDC again.”
He said Zanu-PF was not going to impose candidates in the coming elections adding that the grassroots should decide a candidate of their choice.
“Imposition of candidates in an election kills the party and that will never happen again as long as I am here. We have been having people being dragged and imposed on us and then told to vote for them. We want people we know, who are chosen by the people,” he said.
Online Reporter