17 February 2022
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Prosperity Sikhosana
BULAWAYO-The aspiring candidates for March 26 By-elections for Pumula suburb met with the residents of the area yesterday afternoon.
The “Meet the Candidates Series” was organized by Centre for Innovation & Technology, Zimbabwe (CITE), and Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA).
The By-elections are being held after Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T /MDC-A controversially recalled Members of Parliament and Councilors.
It has taken over two years to have these By-Elections held.
BPRA and Cite Zim gathered residents and the aspiring candidates at Old Pumula hall with the notion for the candidates to explain themselves to the electorates.
The candidates present there were from the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), ZANU-PF, MDC-T/Alliance and ZAPU.
In the Series, the residents were introduced to their aspiring councillors who are canvasing for their vote in the upcoming by-elections.
The candidates had to sell themselves to the electorate in order to garner their votes.
First to take the podium was Peter Ncube under the party MDC-ALLIANCE. He promised nothing since he does not have any money on him (to implement projects).
However, Ncube asked the residents of Pumula to vote him concillor in order to continue with projects already being done. He told his listeners that the success of these projects, he hopes will be achieved through donors.
“When we say donors we don’t just mean whites overseas, but also our children, relatives and friends. If we ask them for help on certain projects then come up with our own organisations to develop our community,” stated Ncube.
Ncube acknowledged the challenges being faced by Bulawayo City Council that may perhaps hinder him from delivering his duties.
He noted that the City Council is struggling financially hence without money some projects ‘cannot be run’, which is beyond his control, but he however promises to raise funds from “higher power” if he wins.
The CCC candidate is Christopher Dube.
Like his counterpart in the MDC, Dube said he cannot promise anything out of hand as he will be working based on orders and demands from the public who would have voted for him.
Dube however told his followers that he has projects underway already planned for the area and almost ready to run.
“A project by World Vision has begun. This will be a place where the youth will do welding, mechanics and any other projects to avoid loitering the streets the whole day.”
Dube also explained that Isilwane Youth Center had received desktop computers that are ready for use. These will cater for Youths Information Technology. The youths are urged to make use of the desktop computers for research purposes and perhaps enhance their IT skills.
Dube expressed the will to engage the City Council and propose the return of Football Tournaments that used to keep the youths busy.
When Ntando Moyo from Zanu-PF stood he told the gathering that he will embark three projects if he wins.
He intends to address the issue of uncollected garbage, broken sewage pipes and have Pumula cleaned.
Moyo also seeks to tackkle the issue of the housing waiting list backlog. Many people are still to receive residential stands that they applied for more than 20 years ago. He will assist those on the waiting list to receive residential stands.
Lastly, Moyo aspires to bring together Pumula as one people and work hand in hand despite differences in party preferences.
Felix Adam Phambano Ndebele, from the party ZAPU, said he will engage the residents to go around Ward 19 and find the problems bedeviling the area and then sit together and decide together how to address the problems.
“Before, we were orphans for too long. The councillors were recalled by someone who did not vote for them. Perhaps that is why we have broken sewage pipes everywhere.” Taking a jibe at the recalling of councilors by Mwonzora.
Ndebele expressed the desire to work for the residents until they decide otherwise.
Ndebele intends to have house rates reduced and will advocate for doing away with estimated water meter readings.
Ndebele will ensure that residents have proper housing.
Pumula residents will have to decide from the four who their councillor will be. The would be councillor will replace Caretaker Cllr. Sikhululekile Moyo of Ward 17 and 19.
After the meeting Zim GBC News spoke to some of the residents with the intention to get their side.
Givemore Mangena stated that there is hope from what the aspiring councillors had said but hopes the youths will be given proper attention and have their needs met as well.
One woman Meldah Dube, a resident at Pumula also noted the need to have fair allocation of funds and projects in the community as councillors tend to give tenders to their friends.
Agreeing with her, Marvin Gumbo asked the councillors to do away with corruption.
Stand in councilor, Cllr. S Moyo concluded by stating that the public should be united in choosing their representative without hate caused by different preferences in political parties.
If residents are united in the choice of their councillor, this could assist in the reduction of political violence that is already raising its ugly head as this is usually the order of day towards elections.
Seemingly, the politicians have nothing to promise to the residents but have their eyes on the councillor’s seat.
Zim GBC News