Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIKOMBEDZI
– A
promise made to the Gezani community in Chiredzi South by then Zimbabwe Defence
Forces (ZDF) commander and now Vice president Constantino Chiwenga some weeks
before he launched a coup that toppled Robert Mugabe seems to have been
forgotten.
– A
promise made to the Gezani community in Chiredzi South by then Zimbabwe Defence
Forces (ZDF) commander and now Vice president Constantino Chiwenga some weeks
before he launched a coup that toppled Robert Mugabe seems to have been
forgotten.
Chiwenga seconded one of his then
juniors, Brig Gen Trust Mugoba to represent him at the funeral of late Headman
Gezani, Simon Chauke.
juniors, Brig Gen Trust Mugoba to represent him at the funeral of late Headman
Gezani, Simon Chauke.
During his speech, Mugoba spoke
glowingly about the late traditional leader saying the Gezani family was one of
heroism as his late father had also assisted Chiwenga during the liberation
struggle.
glowingly about the late traditional leader saying the Gezani family was one of
heroism as his late father had also assisted Chiwenga during the liberation
struggle.
“General Chiwenga is saddened by
the death of Headman Gezani because that’s where he was kept during the
chimurenga time,” said Mugoba.
the death of Headman Gezani because that’s where he was kept during the
chimurenga time,” said Mugoba.
He said the army wanted to pay
tribute to the contributions made by the Gezani family to the liberation
struggle by constructing a clinic or a school in the area.
tribute to the contributions made by the Gezani family to the liberation
struggle by constructing a clinic or a school in the area.
“We want the community to
identify two or three projects in this area which the ZDF will undertake for
you. Give us a school, clinic or anything of your choice and we will send our
team of engineers and builders to do it for the community this year.
identify two or three projects in this area which the ZDF will undertake for
you. Give us a school, clinic or anything of your choice and we will send our
team of engineers and builders to do it for the community this year.
“We want a team work; we have
partners who we are working with at Dumisa Primary School which are CBZ Bank
and FBC Bank. Even the community, you must be active so that our development
projects will be completed quickly,” he added.
partners who we are working with at Dumisa Primary School which are CBZ Bank
and FBC Bank. Even the community, you must be active so that our development
projects will be completed quickly,” he added.
In October of the same year,
Chiwenga visited Makhanani Primary School and participated at a ground-breaking
ceremony for a new clinic project.
Chiwenga visited Makhanani Primary School and participated at a ground-breaking
ceremony for a new clinic project.
“You made two requests, one, for
us to construct a clinic and the need to have mobile networks in this area. I
had to recall your contribution during the war and I then saw it fit to have a
hospital constructed in this area. I know Headman Gezani is no longer with us,
but he would be pleased to see these developments taking place in this area,” Chiwenga
said then.
us to construct a clinic and the need to have mobile networks in this area. I
had to recall your contribution during the war and I then saw it fit to have a
hospital constructed in this area. I know Headman Gezani is no longer with us,
but he would be pleased to see these developments taking place in this area,” Chiwenga
said then.
However, nothing has been done on
the site of the projects and the issue is not even being talked about despite
that Chiwenga is now in government and is arguably the second powerful man in
the country, with even greater leverage to influence government policy.
the site of the projects and the issue is not even being talked about despite
that Chiwenga is now in government and is arguably the second powerful man in
the country, with even greater leverage to influence government policy.
Auspicious Ndlovu, a social
activist from Chiredzi South, said Chiwenga should urgently move to fulfil his
promises in an area considered to be among one of the most marginalised in the
country.
activist from Chiredzi South, said Chiwenga should urgently move to fulfil his
promises in an area considered to be among one of the most marginalised in the
country.
“We still feel short-changed.
Since he was elevated from army general to Vice President, he has totally
forgotten us and the clinic which he promised is nowhere to be seen,” said
Ndlovu.
Since he was elevated from army general to Vice President, he has totally
forgotten us and the clinic which he promised is nowhere to be seen,” said
Ndlovu.
Headman Gezani’s phone was not
reachable for comment.
reachable for comment.
.
