By Hon. Temba P. Mliswa| A recurring narrative among the campaign lobbies of some those aspiring for office in the upcoming elections is the rather tired emphasis on a “resident” MP, whatever that means. Agreed, that is meant to cast me as remote from Norton’s aspirations. Such emphasis betrays ignorance, amongst such lobbyists, of the roles of an MP. It also leaves one wondering exactly what a resident is. What is the difference, in expectations, that a “resident” and a ratepayer have from their local authority or parliament? Such lobbyists betray a shocking level of hypocrisy by clamouring for a resident representative while at the same time lobbying for the diaspora vote. One would have thought that the diaspora voter, technically non-resident, would, by virtue of being a voter, be also eligible to stand for election as a representative. It escapes the lobbyists that in many spheres of our lives, we entrust our aspirations on the hands of expatriates.
Do you have to “reside” in a particular area to represent people effectively? For the record, I have never stayed in a constituency I represented. I represented Hurungwe West while my farm is in Hurungwe Central. I was ZANU PF chairperson for Mashonaland West but I come from the Midlands. I currently chair the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines And Energy yet I am not a miner. And, maybe to add, I hold a sports and fitness studies degree, yet in politics I have to grapple with political scientists. I was once chairperson of Dynamos FC and at one time a fitness coach at my favourite CAPS Utd! Although a Zimbabwean, the Zambian national rugby team once engaged me as their coach. I believe a representative is more effective representing people who are not his or her competitors. You do not have to be a murderer to be a murderer’s lawyer. Or corrupt to be a corrupt person’s lawyer. You only need to understand the law.
Representation requires the absence of avoidable conflicts of interest. That is why I do not operate any business undertakings in constituencies I represent. If you do, you are easily conflicted, with genuine calls for delivery easily ascribed the selfish label.
When I am in Parliament, I bring up Norton issues and represent Norton in the national discourse. I reside in Harare, yet spend more time in Norton than most aspirants who “live” in Norton. Before and after every parliamentary sitting, I make it a tradition to drive to Norton. As these aspirants drive into Harare, I am driving into Norton. As they drive into Norton, I am driving out!

I could well be recruited into any neighborhood watch structure in Norton as I am normally in the constituency, hard at work, as late as 2200hrs or the next morning. Because of that, I now know Norton and its aspirations more than the aspirants who “live” in Norton, yet “leave” Norton whenever it suits their own interests. Believe me, some of the aspirants clamouring so much about “living” in Norton, when in fact they leave from Norton, are ignorant even of the boundaries of Norton constituency!

To them, Katanga is Norton. Nharira is Norton. But Makwiro’s Ward 13 is not. “New Stands”, on the fringes of Mhondoro, is not. For example, one of the aspiring parties recently held a primary election. The outcome was disputed and while its members were preparing for a re-run, a deal was negotiated for the winner to give way to the loser. Notice how the said deal involved the two contestants who think they are more “Norton resident” than the third one in the original race, who happened to identify more as a “rural Nortonian!”

The question of residence, to me, diverts attention from the important issue of people-service. True, I live in Harare, yet Norton is my heart. Just as it has always been even in my days as provincial chairperson of the current ruling party, from when the residents of Kingsdale remember me as their ally. I am a servant of the people of Norton. I believe in the development of Norton. I continuously work for the title deeds of all, including some of the aspirants, so that they actually own their homes, not just “live” in them.

I am not in Norton to live out of the statutory parliamentary allowances. Unlike some of the aspirants who see a job opportunity in being Norton MP! As MPs, we are paid just under $2000, (I know that is something worth fighting for for some aspirants!) and as committee chairperson, I get an extra $200. Yet I have spent, since my election in 2016, close to $250 000 on self-initiated projects in the constituency. Not campaigns. And certainly not under duress. Just a demonstration of my belief in the people of Norton and a personal contribution to their aspirations.
I thought I would just disabuse you of the job-seeking application letters of some aspiring MPs, laced with misplaced emphasis on residential addresses. Reply the job-seekers, sincerely, that you are not looking to employ a “Resident Gate-keeper” type of MP. Tell them you want a worthy servant, no matter where he or she lives, or leaves. That you are not so much looking for a representative who will reside with you so that he or she wipes your tears or cries with you, but a go-getter who will go out there and expose those enjoying your tears for selfish gain.

I may not “live” with you, but l will not leave you. I will represent you just as l have been doing. To me, representing you is a culture l will not deviate from, ever!