Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-West Member of Parliament (MP) Farai Musikavanhu last year failed to fulfill his ZW$1 million pledge from the 2021 ZW$2 Million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) towards the refurbishment of Tshovani Stadium.
In July 2021, (https://tellzim.com/musikavanhu-promises-zw1mil-towards/) Musikavanhu who is also patron for Chiredzi FC wrote to then Chiredzi Town Council Secretary, the late Charles Muchatukwa seeking permission to devote 50percent of the 2021 CDF, towards the refurbishment of the facility in order to promote local football, which he later failed as the CDF’s 2021 share was used towards other projects.
During the run up to 2018 harmonized elections, Musikavanhu also promised the electorate that he will transform Tshovani Stadium to FIFA standards and now its four years down the line but the stadium still looks like a primary school football pitch.
Speaking during the meeting with Chiredzi Town Council in council boardroom last year, Musikavanhu confirmed his intention to use 50percent of the 2021 CDF towards refurbishment of the stadium while he challenged Chiredzi Town Council and other stakeholders to join hands towards that cause.
Musikavanhu indicated that half of the budget will go towards construction of two classroom blocks at Monyoroka (ward 27) and Batanai Schools (ward 28).
In an interview with the committee responsible with the refurbishment of Tshovani Stadium, who is the Vice chaiperson of Chiredzi Town Council and ward 3 councillor, Ropafadzo Makumire said they are still to get the promised ZWL$ 1 million from the legislator and the local authority has since injected ZWL$268 000 in the project.
“The local authority has so far channeled ZW$268 000 towards electrification and we are still to get the ZW$1 million which was promised by the Member of Parliament,” said Makumire.
Musikavanhu did not respond to the questions sent to him by this publication but he had already made a budget for the 2022 CDF which he, through a message attributed to him sent to some WhatsApp groups, indicated that he will finish construction of two blocks in ward 27 and 28 respectively.
He also indicated that he will construct another new block in ward 28, electrify existing borehole at ward 5 Zava Shopping Center and installation of two-5000 litre water tanks for that borehole.
The legislator also targets the construction of a Polyclinic patients waiting shed and Maternity wing staff toilet at the council run clinic, where he once allegedly sabotaged a donation by a UK based businessman, John Manganye who had bought state of the art electric hospital beds, an ambulance and water tanks.
