Zanu-PF to field vibrant candidates

In an interview on the sidelines of a Zanu-PF rally at Muntu Farm in Nyamandlovu, Politburo member and MP for Umguza Dr Obert Mpofu said the coming elections were a chance for the people from Matabele-land region to elect credible leaders who would deliver.

Dr Mpofu said in the elections, the electorate from the region should punish leaders who have failed to foster development in their constituencies.

“The region has its leaders and people know them. As we go for elections Zanu-PF will allow people to choose vibrant leaders they want from the region through a competitive process. This alone will make the party popular,” said Dr Mpofu who is also the Minister of Mines and Mining Development.

“People want properly elected leaders and not imposed candidates. We have heard of some leaders from the region, even from my party, talking against supporting the communities they lead. These are the leaders who do not want to see Zanu-PF succeed.

“Such leaders enjoy seeing disorganisation within the party. They know they are not popular and want to perpetuate the status quo in order to retain their positions. I have said I will always share the little that I have with the people who gave me the mandate to lead.”

Dr Mpofu said the 1987 Unity Accord between PF-Zapu and Zanu paved way for the democratic process in Zimbabwe, which allows people to choose the leaders they wanted.

He said political leaders from the regionhad a responsibility to uplift the people who voted them into power.

“As leaders we have a mandate from the people who elect us into power. When we get into these positions people expect us to deliver. It is sad that some leaders go into power just to satisfy their personal aspirations.

“Here in Matabeleland we have heard a lot of talk about marginalisation and underdevelopment when we have leaders who are part of the Government and are in influential positions,” said Dr Mpofu.

“We have tended to apportion the blame to people who have no mandate when it is our responsibility to develop our places. This is a problem that cuts across the party divide, whether Zanu-PF or MDC.”

Dr Mpofu’s remarks come at a time when there is a lot of talk about alleged marginalisation and lack of development in the Matabeleland region.