Zanu-PF candidate calls for increased community participation

ZANU-PF aspiring councilor for Ward 7 in Hwange Central constituency, Cde Peterson Ncube, has implored residents to embrace pro-active community involvement in economic development by tapping into opportunities along the various supply chains of companies operating in the area.

As part of his campaign message, Cde Ncube believes adequate empowerment of locals is the way to endearing leaders with the masses, which is what the revolutionary party stands for.

Zimbabwe is due to hold its harmonised elections on August 23 and pollsters say that Zanu PF will win resoundingly riding on its close relations with the people since pre-independence times. Cde Ncube’s sentiments come at a time when Hwange District has increased job opportunities from coal to energy investments and downstream businesses.

In an interview, he said through President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, communities were being transformed.

“I strongly believe in President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030. Our people have to unite and start being active participants in the economy,” said Cde Ncube.

“My call to the people of Hwange, in particular voters in Ward 7, is that they must organize themselves and take advantage of the economic benefits in the area. Over the years, I have been getting individuals and groups to come together and register companies so that they can occupy local supply lines and where possible, do processing and logistics as partners or contractors to big companies.”

Having joined Zanu-PF in 1999 under the Nekatambe Youth Wing, the aspiring councillor presents himself as a candidate who has seen it all in Hwange and now believes he is one of the leaders to help transform urban governance in Hwange.

“As councils, we just have to do the right things. Councils have clearly documented procedures from office produces, meetings, project planning, implementation, monitoring, and review,” he said.

“We need to go back to basics. Councils are now entangled in a maze of self-created confusion. There is urgent need for a rescue operation founded on the fundamentals of good local governance,” said Cde Ncube.

“My conviction is that it is about time we produce for the local market and make money circulate locally. That is the surest way to grow the local economy. We must advocate for a position where local companies here support the local community through multipurpose vehicles designed to fund start projects and recover their money over time.”

Cde Ncube said in the long run entrepreneurs must think strategically and coalesce their efforts to form big companies that will produce a range of products and services that are needed in the market.

“I started community work as a young man. The notable one was when, as a group of Hwange St Mary’s Catholic youths we donated a wheelchair to a villager at Gamba village. That was to mark the beginning of my active participation in community work and opinion leadership,” said Cde Ncube.

Cde Ncube has worked for Bubi Rural District Council as a social services officer, Hwange Rural District Council as an administration and personnel officer as well as for the Hwange Colliery Company as the town’s services manager and lodges and clubs manager.

The said his inspiration for public office came when he joined the Hwange Development Association (HWADA), which was then led by Advocate Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament.

“Come August 23, we just have to vote wisely, peacefully, and bring back Zanu PF into power in Hwange urban. The time is now to correct the wrongs and bring empowerment to our people,” he said.