By Trevor Saruwaka| Ward 10 of Mutasa Central* is a strong anti-Zanu PF area which has been successively won by MDC candidates since 2008 to date.
This ward is where Mutasa Central MP Trevor Saruwaka of Saruwaka village hail from. Other opposition stalwarts from this ward are the Tsunga brothers, Hons Regai and Arnold who are from Manyonho village.
Regai is the current Mutasa South legislator whilst Arnold served as the Chikanga-Dangamvura MP from 2013-14.
Hon David Tekeshe (current MP for Makoni Central) also comes from Ngwende village in the same ward whilst Hon Sibonile Nyamudeza (MP for Chipinge East 2008-13 and 2018 to date) comes from Samaringa village.
Ward 10 is, therefore, an MDC fortress which the opposition has no plans to relinquish any time soon.
Nothing is new for Ward 10 since this is not the first time an MDC Councilor has failed to complete his term of office. Owen Mbona served only two years of his term in 2008. He was recalled by the Party after he was found guilty of diverting food aid from Plan International to his personal benefit. Afterwards he crossed the floor to join Zanu PF, a party which tolerates and promotes corruption. He was a key member of the campaign team for the former Zinwa CEO n Zanu PF Parliamentary candidate who was defeated hands down in last year’s plebiscite despite his brazen vote-buying antics which included distributing bicycles, blankets, buying beer n splashing money to unemployed youths. It simply didn’t cut.
Ironically, the current Zanu PF candidate, Margaret Tindirika, is a former MDC member who switched parties after being walloped at the 2013 primary elections by the persecuted and out-going MDC Clr, Frank Chitembwe. She came a distant 3rd in that race after Clr Chitembwe and incoming Clr, Rose Tanyaradzwa Mukodza. She joined Zanu PF around 2016 out of frustration because she was very low in the packing order for MDC. To MDC this election is a delayed match whose results are already known. Come 12 May, MDC-A’s Rose Mukodza is going wake up the new Ward 10 Councilor.
As I write this piece Zanu PF has gone into high gear in its deceit, lies, threats and political gamesmanship. A Zinara grader on ZEC assignment to maintain roads and improve accessibility ahead of elections is now being claimed and attributed to Zanu PF. This is very shameful. Village heads and Headman Muponda/Mtetwa have now been instructed to coerce their subjects to vote for Zanu PF. As part of this ploy they have also been promised to be taken to
Nyadzonya n Chimoio shrines for them to appreciate the gravity of the contest ahead. After visiting these sites they are expected to be tough enough to ensure a Zanu PF victory in their wards.
Meetings called by village heads on the pretext that government will be issuing maize are turning out to be Zanu PF rallies as this perennial losing Party’s functionaries seize the opportunity to address the people. Zanu PF can nolonger call a meeting on its own but through traditional leaders and government agencies like *Agritex, GMB n Social Welfare* departments.
The people of Ward 10 are clever enough to know that Zanu PF is the author of all their problems. They know that Zanu PF is responsible for:
1) the poor condition of Jombe road and other roads in the ward
2) astronomical cost of bread n transport to Hauna and Mutare
3) joblessness of thousands of school leavers and unemployed adults who spend the days loafing at Mutisi, Masere, Paunganwa and Nyabadza* business centres among others,
4) stealing and partisan distribution of government food aid and inputs at Masere Warehouse including Cyclone Idai donations
5) murdering of innocent people in the streets of Harare on 1 August 2018 and in the aftermath of the ZCTU stayaway in January this year
6) lack of medicines at Samaringa and Honde Mission clinics and shortage of doctors at Hauna Hospital.
7) introducing worthless bond notes, RTGS$
8) erosion of pensions and unavailability of cash in the banks
9) unaffordable school fees and imposition of the unfunded new curriculum
10) lying that life is going to get better yet it is becoming harder by the day
They are also aware that Zanu PF engineered the arrest of the popularly elected and hard working Clr, Frank Chitembwe, on false allegations so that they create an opening for themselves. The people of Ward 10 know all this. On the 11th of May they are going to show it in a way Zanu PF will undoubtedly understand.