Brighton Chiseva
CHIVI – Jostling for Chivi South House of Assembly seat has already begun after four candidates successfully filed their nominations with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on January 26 at Masvingo Magistrate’s court.
The nomination followed the recent announcement of by-election dates by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, with the elections to be held on March 26, 2022.
Masvingo province has only two vacant parliamentary seats, Chivi South and Mwenezi East.
Chivi South fell vacant after the recall of Killer Zivhu by Zanu PF for alleged acts of indiscipline while Mwenezi East fell vacant after the death of Joosbi Omar in 2020.
Battle lines for Chivi South have already been drawn between two major rivals businessman Munyaradzi Zizhou representing Zanu PF and Paul Thompson Mhlolo of the newly launched Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) (formerly MDC –Alliance).
Zizhou has an advantage of resources as compared to his rival, as Zanu PF will likely bankroll his campaign as pressure is minimal because it will only focus on two constituencies.
The time is also opportune for the newly elected Zanu PF provincial executive to prove their capabilities as they will likely pull all the stops to retain the seat.
He also has the general advantage of a pro-Zanu PF rural electorate and Chivi South is one of the areas where the party enjoys dominance over the opposition.
His predecessor Killer Zivhu also seems to have support for him after he announced that he will not stand as an independent but would support President Mnangagwa, which can translate to Zivhu’s sympathisers voting for Zizhou.
Born in 1988, Zizhou said he joined politics at the age of 21 as Lundi Cell chairperson. He was later elected deputy secretary for transport for Chivi district. In 2019, he was elected a provincial member where he became deputy secretary for economic affairs, a post he held until December 2021.
Zizhou was born in Mandava village, ward 22 under Chief Nemauzhe in Chivi district.
He first attempted to run for office in 2018 but failed because he could not qualify to enter into the primary election race against Zivhu and then incumbent Mafios Utete.
“I attempted to run for the seat in 2018 but I could not qualify for the primaries as per Zanu PF party’s constitution. I then continued working for the party waiting for my time which I believe is now,” said Zizhou
He said his major attribute as an aspiring MP was his age, which he said was a key tool into modernising the rural community as the country aims to achieve vision 2030.
“As a youthful person, I am the best candidate for Chivi South, we want to modernise the rural areas and that need a young person who is conversant with the new communication technology which is fast becoming a key development driver.
“I stand a better chance to transform the area for the youths who are key players because as a youth, I am well conversant with their needs, since their needs are also mine,” said Zizhou.
He said getting in office will give him the chance to further push for the establishment of network boosters in ward 23 where network is a major challenge and provide communication services and connectivity in key areas.
“I am currently engaging network service providers for the erection of one or more boosters in ward 23, so if I win as I am confident will be better positioned to make that dream a reality,” said Zizhou.
He also promised to make sure that all schools get access to the internet and electricity connectivity so that they can do online learning.
He said he is also targeting the completion of a dam project in ward 32 and start the construction of an already pegged clinic in the same ward and another clinic in ward 29 and make sure that locals benefit from the Tugwi–Mukosi dam.
“There is an on-going dam construction in ward 32; I will give priority to that dam and start the construction of a clinic that has already been pegged. We also have another clinic project in ward 29 which needs urgent attention.
“I will also prioritise road rehabilitation with special interest in Berejena-Maringire, Berejena – Mandiva, Nyahombe-Simudzirai then Mutote-Runesu and make sure that locals especially youths benefit from the Tugwi Mukosi dam in terms of fisheries as well as irrigation scheme when it starts,” he said.
The newly launched Citizens Coalition for Change formerly MDC-Alliance will be represented by Paul Thompson Mhlolo.
His major advantage is the current wave and excitement associated with the change of name by his party from MDC-Alliance to CCC.
People in his constituency are also disgruntled by delays in the establishment of irrigation schemes at Tugwi-Mukosi dam and compensation of their relatives who were displaced after the floods and blame Zanu PF for that so voting for Mhlolo could be a way of expressing their displeasure.
The economic situation has also deteriorated after the 2018 elections and their hopes could have been lost so they can do a “Bhora Musango” vote for the opposition.
Mhlolo (51) did his primary at Zunga Primary School before going to Neruvanga Secondary for form one to four.
He is in the Real Estate Industry and runs a signage company and he said he started politics in 2000 as an MDC member having been introduced into it by his late brother Samson Hove who was the secretary general of the catering department during the formation of MDC.
He first ran for office in 2013 but lost in the primaries and went on to contest in 2018 representing MDC.
He is the current organising secretary for Chivi South Constituency and says he was arrested with former Beitbridge Mayor Fanuel Mandebvu after Chamisa’s visit to Ngundu last year but later released without charge.
He said he supports President Nelson Chamisa’s Vision of freeing Zimbabweans from oppression under the current ruling party.
“I support President Chamisa and the will of the people of Zimbabwe who were freed from colonial power in 1998 but continue under oppressive rule economically from the ruling party,” said Mholo
He said if voted into power, he would work together with the people not only to doing lip service. He said he will make sure they benefit from their natural resources like the Tugwi- Mukosi dam as well as bringing more investment into the constituency.
“I promise the people of Chivi South real development and not just a talk. Together we can achieve more and I promise to be with them all the time unlike others who after being voted, disappear only to resurface when they need re-election.
“The people of Chivi South should benefit from their natural resources and Tugwi-Mukosi dam. The highway that passes through the constituency should bring more investment and I will work to achieve that,” said Mhlolo.
He went on to say the people of Chivi deserved better leaders like him because they have continuously been lied to by previous MPs.
“They should vote for me because I understand their problems well and will work out to address them. They have been lied to for a very long time and the long wait is coming to an end on March 26,” said Mhlolo.
The little known Zimbabwe Patriotic Front will be represented by 46-year-old Faith Chuma who said she is better positioned to win the election by virtue of being a woman who wants to represent women and youths interests as they constitute a larger number of people in the constituency.
Chuma said she was born in Mwenezi but is a resident of Chivi South and stays at Ngundu Business Centre in ward 46.
“If I win I would focus on construction of bridges in the constituency. I have discovered that there are a lot of areas in need of bridges and other areas with bridges that only need to be repaired.
“I will also make sure that the vulnerable members of the community get assistance in terms of food as well as paying fees for orphans,” said Chuma.
Douglas Mwonzora led MDC- Alliance candidate Shadreck Mapope said that he awaits to deliver what the electorate would have tasked him to.
“When people assign a certain task to me, I would just do what they would have asked me to. Of all the people who have been elected in the past, no one has bothered themselves to go and represent the interests of the ordinary people especially our needs as a constituency.
“We have got a number of issues that directly affect people in Chivi South hence need for the elected person to set aside personal interests and forward people’s needs. Once elected into office, you do not have further party interests but address the needs of people,” said Mapope.
