Shingirai Vambe
RUSAPE – Makoni Central Member of MP, Patrick Chinamasa, who is also the Minister of Finance has invited ridicule for himself after he officially opened a skip bin in the town, with many people accusing him of engaging in trivial issues in his desperation to secure re-election.
People told iTell News that for almost five years since the previous election, Chinamasa had not been seen in Rusape until this week.
He appeared in Rusape on Tuesday to commission some very small public projects including the Vengere Multi-Purpose Sports Court.
The minister’s photos cutting a ribbon to officially open a skip bin at Vengere bus Terminus was widely circulated on WhatsApp, with many people deriding him for ‘stooping so low’ and for being ‘desperate to officially open something’ for the sake of votes.
People in Vengere said Chinamasa should, instead, have done something more respectable as stopping the raw sewage which flows straight into Rusape Dam.
“He has not done anything for the people yet he is one of the most powerful government and ruling party officials. How can a whole minister come and pose for photos while officially opening something that small? There are many service delivery and developmental projects he could have implemented to boost his popularity, not what we saw today,” said one informal trader at the bus terminus.
This reporter witnessed raw effluent flowing from a septic tank at the front door of House No T12 in Vengere, with the honour of the property saying he made several reports to authorities about the problem yet nothing had been done to fix it.
Opposite this residence were many carpenters who complained that they had been promised a better operating site for several times.
“We will not vote for him because we are tired of his empty promises. He comes and opens a bin today using CDF money that he should have use long back to improve our surroundings,” said one carpenter, vowing to vote for David Tekeshe of the MDC Alliance.
Other residents said Chinamasa should have used his powerful position both in Zanu PF and government to influence better leadership at Rusape Town Council.politics
