‘Opposition-led councils destroying towns, cities’

Mukudzei Chingwere and Richard Muponde

ZANU PF Vice Presidents and Second Secretaries Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi yesterday rallied the ruling party’s supporters to reaffirm their commitment to Zimbabwe’s development by voting for the party’s candidates in Saturday’s by-elections in Mt Pleasant and Harare East constituencies.

ZANU PF is fielding Cdes Kiven Mutimbanyoka and George Mashavave in Harare East and Mt Pleasant constituencies, respectively.

In his address to thousands of party supporters at the Chikurubi Lakeview grounds in Harare East, Vice President Chiwenga said inept opposition-led councils are forcing urban dwellers to live in dehumanising conditions.

“Harare East is a constituency you have let down for a very long time; you left it to be destroyed by opposition parties and now it’s high time you give ZANU PF a chance to address the problems afflicting this constituency,” said VP Chiwenga.

“Urban roads have become impassable, clean water has long deserted our taps, garbage is largely uncollected, piling up right on our doorsteps; there is no proper town planning because of corruption and land barons . . . all this rot is not coming from Government but local authorities controlled by the opposition.

“Opposition stints in council have clearly shown that these parties are not good for anything except making lives difficult for residents and inviting illegal economic sanctions on the country in their bid to reverse the gains of the hard-won independence.”

Saturday’s by-election, he said, was an opportunity for voters to correct such anomalies.

“As the ruling party, we are pained to see our people being subjected to this sad kind of living, marked by poverty as a result of opposition councils’ ineptitude and corruption.

“Government has come up with measures to address things that ordinarily are a preserve of local authorities.”

He said the ongoing drilling of boreholes through the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme was a short-term measure to ensure residents receive clean and safe water, while work on development of Kunzvi Dam progresses.

He said the Government was building new schools to ensure universal access to education.

“As Government, we are aware that you need your own housing units, even those who are in cantonment areas, we know that you want your own places where you will go upon retirement.

“Government is seized with a modern urban renewal exercise that will culminate in the construction of many housing units.

“To capitalise on available land, we will also champion building going upwards.”

Supporting currency

Speaking on behalf of Vice President Mohadi during the Mt Pleasant rally, ZANU PF National Political Commissar Dr Mike Bimha urged Zimbabweans to have confidence in the country’s new currency — Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).

“This is a currency we should be proud of,” said Vice President Mohadi. “If we are not proud and lack confidence in our money, no one will respect it. If we have confidence in it, it will gain value . . .”

He added: “ZANU PF realised that the currency was weak to outside forces.

“It then came up with an idea to support the currency with gold.

“There is plenty of gold in the country.”

Under the Second Republic, he said, there was hope for a better future, adding that the ongoing infrastructure development was evidence that the country was on the right track.

He urged voters in Mt Pleasant to vote for Cde Mashavave as a show of confidence in ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa.

Addressing the same rally, Cde Mashavave promised to develop the constituency.

“Let me take this opportunity to promise you that once I get into Parliament, all the problems of this constituency will be gone,” he said. We can’t stay in communities without water and roads.

“Urban water is supposed to be treated, but because of people who are sleeping on duty in the opposition-controlled councils, there is no water.”