Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka, [email protected]
NEWLY-ELECTED Member of Parliament for Nkulumane constituency, Cde Freedom Murechu, will today take his oath of office at Parliament Building in Harare, marking a new political era for a constituency traditionally viewed as an opposition stronghold.
Cde Murechu, who contested on a Zanu-PF ticket, secured a resounding victory in the by-election held on December 20 last year.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator, Mr Desire Moyo, in a road accident.
Cde Murechu outpolled eight other candidates to clinch the seat.
His commanding margin of 3 416 votes has been described by political analysts as a significant political swing, signalling the electorate’s growing confidence in the Second Republic’s development-oriented policies.
Speaking ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Cde Murechu said by voting for him, the residents of Nkulumane had given him a mandate to deliver tangible progress to the area.
“This is a victory for development over rhetoric. My focus is now on ensuring that the people of Nkulumane benefit directly from the national vision. We are not just promising; we have already started working,” said Cde Murechu.
True to his word, Cde Murechu, supported by the ruling party, has already implemented a series of high-impact community projects.
To address water challenges, several boreholes have been solarised across the constituency, with plans to complete an additional 10 in the coming weeks.
In a move to support bereaved families, the legislator has donated Jojo tanks and essential kitchen utensils, including pots and plates, to the Nkulumane community for use during funerals.
Education and ICT have also taken centre stage, with five primary schools — Mafela, Amaveni, Mabhukudwana, Mgombane and Elishadai Day Care alongside Nkulumane High School receiving laptops and Starlink kits to bridge the digital divide.
In a bid to empower the local population, Cde Murechu has initiated several socio-economic programmes, most notably the establishment of a dedicated driving school designed to equip young people with essential life skills and improve their employability.
This youth-centric initiative is complemented by a robust vendor support programme, where the legislator has facilitated access to the Presidential Empowerment Fund for traders at every shopping centre across the constituency, providing much-needed capital to local small-scale businesses.
Education and social welfare have also featured prominently in his developmental agenda, with Cde Murechu personally assisting 20 vulnerable children by paying their school fees to ensure they remain in the classroom.
Furthermore, the legislator has taken a proactive stance against social ills by launching a comprehensive anti-drug campaign.
Under this initiative, he has donated soccer and netball kits, including balls, to local teams, to encourage recreation in order to keep the youth away from the scourge of drug and substance abuse.
Cde Murechu’s entry into Parliament is expected to accelerate these community-led initiatives, aligning the constituency with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-income economy that leaves no one and no place behind.
