Fredrick Moyo
As campaigns for March 26 local authority by-elections reach the climax, candidates are leaving no stone unturned as they present their manifestos to the electorate in a bid to lure voters. The three candidates who successfully filed their nomination papers forward on January forwards 26 have been and are still on the campaign trail in the ward.
ZANU PF will be represented by Hakinstone Chimwai, MDC A by Ephanos Makiwa while Daniel Mberikunashe stands in for CCC.
Ephanos Makiwa – MDC A
Makiwa said he is a resident of ward 5 and with the experience he has, is the perfect candidate for the post as he will be taking all the residents grievances to council so that they can be solved.
“I am a resident of ward 5. I worked at council for 28 years in the treasury department but prior to that, I also worked at the Ministry of Education and ZIM Bank now ZB Bank.
“I am and ideal candidate because I know the way council operates and I know more about Urban Councils Act because apart from being a council employee, I was also a trade unionist and that make me think I am the rightful candidate because I know the Act that governs council,” said Makiwa.
He added that he cannot talk about projects as he is not the rightful person to select what residents want but he is a messenger and a debtor of issues in the council representing the people of ward 5.
“I cannot say I have projects that I have for my ward, residents will be the ones sending me to council with what they want to be done in the ward. I am only a messenger, I will be debating issues and also coming with feedback.
“I do not initiate projects, but they come to me with what they want and before we talk about projects, I advocate for a pro-poor budget because residents are facing financial challenges which compromises service delivery,” said Makiwa.
He also said people of ward 5 should vote for him he has financial literacy, knows council procedures and thus can be a good representative.
“The message I can send to the electorate is that here is the person who can represent you, here is the person who knows council procedures and here is the person who has financial literacy,” said Makiwa.
Daniel Mberikunashe –Citizen Coalition for Change
Mberikunashe said he was a councillor before and he has the experience that it takes to lead ward 5 residents and there are some projects that he was pushing for before he was recalled by MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora.
“I am a resident of ward 5 and have been a councillor before, I was a councillor from 2013 up to 2018 and again from 2018 until I was recalled by Mwonzora. As a councillor, I am a God fearing person, I go to African Apostolic Church which also teaches me to be a good leader,” said Mberikunashe.
He added that he chose to be a councillor because he has people at heart and really want to see residents in ward 5 living the life they want and admire.
“I chose to be a councillor because of the love that I have for the people and want to see them living the way they wish and want to and whenever they need assistance, I will assist them.
“From the time that I was a councillor, I initiated many programmes or projects in ward 5 which include helping the youth with technical jobs so as to shift their focus from drugs and other bad behavioural things and also pushed for women clubs where they will be exchanging groceries and money,” said Mberikunashe.
Mberikunashe also said he is looking forward to be back in council and finish some of the resolutions that he started before he was recalled.
“I am looking forward to be back in council on March 26 and I have many resolutions that we had made that include road maintenance, solving water challenges, refuse collection and also repairing sewage and I will push it when I am elected.
“The party that I represent led by Nelson Chamisa is a party that has a huge following and has good policies suitable for the citizens and also have a bright future especially for the youth. With this, I do not see any obstacle that will distract me from winning the by-elections.
Hakinstone Chimwai – ZANU PF
Chimwai said he is a resident of ward 5, born in Masvingo province. He also said he chose to be a councillor because he really wants to bring back the city to where it was before the opposition party was in control saying they destroyed councils over the past 20.
“When elected, I will transform all things that the opposition party destroyed over the last 20 years and development that they have made in the ward does not even tally with the years they have been in charge.
“After I am elected, I will try and address all the problems residents in ward 5 are facing. In ward 5, there are water challenges, sewage is flowing everywhere and roads are in a very bad state. So far I have five boreholes that I have drilled and from the total, three are almost done and will start working soon, with the other two only needing a little attention before they start working.
He added that he will build a proper market place in ward 5 if elected to prevent residents from diseases and also those who are selling their products have a safe place to leave goods in a locked and secure place.
“I want to build a proper market place for people in ward 5. This will help in prevention of diseases and also those who are selling their products at the market place will have somewhere secure to leave their wares ,” added Chimwai.
