Farai Musikavanhu
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Batanai Primary School has scored big from the masked rivalry between incumbent Chiredzi West Member of Parliament (MP) Darlington Chiwa and Farai Musikavanhu, the man who is touted as Chiwa’s rival in the 2018 general election.
The school, situated in Triangle section 23, has had no proper structures and children have been learning from under the trees and in unkempt grass shades.
The school now boasts two newly-built classrooms block; one built by Musikavanhu reportedly at a cost of US$40 000 and the other one by Chiwa with the help of supporters and some parents with children attending the school.
People who spoke to TellZim News said they welcomed the smooth contestation for power between the two men which they say was a result of realisation that there were no longer cheap votes for those who do not work for the public.
“They are working flat out to curry favour with the electorate and to outdo each other in the eyes of the public. It’s a do or die game for them because whoever wins the Zanu PF primaries next year is likely to hold the seat for many terms and the loser will have a very difficult time,” said a party supporter from the constituency.
The two have silently hit the campaign trail, with Chiwa going back to the people and implementing various developmental projects in a bid to retain the seat next year.
Musikavanhu is also understood to have hit the campaign trail, with his well-oiled camp also initiating developmental projects and promising to bail out struggling public institutions, all in the name of ZimAsset.
Musikavanhu told TellZim News that he has already engaged Chiredzi Rural District Council to invite guests for the official opening of the block he built at the school as he works to complete another block at Kushinga Primary School.
“Kushinga is not yet completed. The Rural District Council will be handling invitations of Very Important Persons and I don’t know who will be coming and the date is yet to be set,” said Musikavanhu.
When contacted for comment, Chiwa, whose block has already been roofed, said it was his task to seek funds from well-wishers to facilitate development in his constituency.
“My role as MP is to look for development partners who will help us to facilitate development in our constituency since the Constituency Development Fund seems to be no longer existent,” said Chiwa.politics
