Chivi South – MP Irvene Dzingirai (Zanu PF) and Nkulumane MP is MDC-T’s Thamsanqa Mahlangu.
The MPs were elected during the 2008 parliamentary elections. Most people interviewed said they knew the MPs and that they have spearheaded different projects in their respective constituencies.
Nkulumane residents applauded their MP highlighting that he was doing his job well.
What the people said about Dzingirai Kumbirai Chivare, a vendor at Maringire business centre
I know the MP and he frequently visits the constituency. He visits often whether it is before or towards elections. Dzingirai’s meetings in the constituency focus on uplifting the people’s lives.
His visibility in the constituency dates back to even before the time of the $50 000 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations to MPs.
Tawonga Muwuyi, a brick moulder at Museva School I know the MP even if I have never attended a single meeting called by him. Sometimes we do not get to know about the meetings.
However, the MP helps the community a lot. He is also approachable.
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A businessman at Tokwe-Shongamiti business centre The MP has pro-poor development policies.
However, in as much as he helps the community, I think he has to do more and look at different people’s peculiar problems rather than concentrating on the villagers developing business communities.
I am not saying his focus is bad, but he has to think of all social strata when implementing projects.
Response by Dzingirai
I have all along been putting all my efforts into improving the constituency.I reopened a clinic which was lying idle for several years due to lack of water.
I also helped in sprucing up a lot of schools which did not have furniture and other materials.
I decided to develop schools and clinics because these are places where everyone goes for medical help or education and they are good community projects. I thought such projects benefited everyone.
The projects at schools and clinics were done using CDF money.
The business community might have their own problems, but we will try to deal with those next time we get CDF allocations.
I thought it prudent to first deal with critical issues affecting the community. All these were recommended by the CDF committee and councillors.
I sponsor peace games, where youths from all political parties participate to foster a spirit of reconciliation and harmony. That is why my constituency was amongst the few that recorded low incidence of political violence during the 2008 polls.
In Nkulumane, Sandra Moyo said Mahlangu was hardworking.
“Mahlangu is a hard worker, he is okay, he calls meetings regularly and he does his best to improve the community. He has done a lot for us,” Moyo said.
Faith Gumbo said Mahlangu was a caring MP.
“Mahlangu is caring, he attends funerals, he donated chairs and computers to Mandwandwe Secondary School, he is facilitating the building of Mncumbatha Primary School and at the moment, he is also facilitating efforts to build the hall,” she said.
A woman who said she was Ambuya Shoko said Mahlangu needed to engage Zesa over poor service delivery.
“Zesa load-shedding should be fair. We pay licences but do not watch TV because of Zesa. He should talk to these people so that we do not blame him for the poor service delivery of other institutions,” she said.
Skhumbuzo Murerwa said there was a need for Mahlangu to facilitate the building of toilets for vendors and establish income-generating projects.
Mkhululi Dube said:“If such meetings are not called by the leaders of the society, it costs us as parents because children believe in acting in accordance to leaders of the society and when they are grown up they have nothing to do.”
Skhulile Ndlovu added: “Mahlangu has done a lot for us. We are happy about all his initiatives and contributions, but we still require him to ensure that housing is fully attended to by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC). Stands are expensive because most of us do not have high-paying jobs. We request him to talk to the BCC and negotiate on our behalf a way that will enable us to have proper houses.”
Mahlangu’s response
“The matter surrounding the establishment of toilets, taps and shelters for flea markets in Nkulumane near the terminus and car park was an outstanding issue.
“There is a problem of ownership at that place so ideally, we cannot invest in a place that is embroiled in disputes. The former councillor bought that place and the residents also want ownership of that place so the CDF committee is supposed to resolve the ownership wrangle first,” he said.
