Zanu PF has failed to fulfil its basket of election promises for Nkulumane constituency in Bulawayo, with many abandoned after the party won the seat in a December by-election.
Zanu PF made extensive promises to voters through its candidate Freedom Murechu and senior party officials.
The seat fell vacant following the tragic passing of the incumbent Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator, Desire Moyo, in October last year.
Officials promised to address power outrages through the replacement and repair of non-functioning transformers.
They also promised to rehabilitate roads in the constituency among several other election pledges and development initiatives.
In an interview with Southern Eye, Murechu was, however, singing a different tune saying immediate task swould be to harmonise the projects initiated by the late former MP with those promised during his own campaign and those planned for the constituency’s future.
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Murechu added that he had no intention of dismantling the existing development committee, but plans to refresh it.
“We will be moving away from the politics of rhetoric to the politics of production,” he said.
“My office will be open to all residents as we work. On Friday, we will be doing a tour of the projects so that we can harmonise them.”
He said some projects had already been completed by the late former MP, while others were initiated during his own campaign, including the drilling of boreholes.
“We drilled boreholes during the election campaign period, and they have not been handed over to the residents. There is no ownership yet,” he said.
Murechu said most of the developments happening in the constituency are council-based.
Nkulumane Constituency Development Committee chairman Andrew Ndlovu said they held a stakeholders’ meeting where they discussed issues affecting the constituency.
Nkulumane Constituency Development Funds Committee chairman Wingle Nhliziyo expressed disappointment with the service provider tasked with completing all identified projects.
“We are only waiting to complete the projects that were started by the late former MP,”Nhliziyo said.
“We had an engagement with the new MP Murechu last month.
“He promised that he will not wait for money from the government only, but will assist wherever possible with his own funds since he is a businessman.”