TM: You have been a Member of Parliament for the Mhondoro-Ngezi constituency for two terms. Do you intend to run again in the next general election?
BM: Definitely, I am still running. I will not stop until people tell me that they are fed up with me.
TM: During your past two terms, what would you say you have achieved for the constituency?
BM: We were the first constituency to run the Community Ownership Scheme. I started it and it was historical. The government has now taken over and it has spread all over the country. The scheme has brought development to Mhondoro-Ngezi. We have managed to acquire equipment like graders, tractors and vehicles. We have set up a number of projects and with the royalties that we get from companies and mines doing business at the Ngezi Platinum mine (Zimplats) and the business centre in the constituency is going to be upgraded into a town.
In terms of employment, about 2500 youths from Mhondoro-Ngezi are employed at Zimplats. 500 are permanent employees whilst 2000 are contract workers. Thus, there is a high employment rate in my constituency.
Over the years I have managed to secure farming inputs from donors and have been distributing them for free. I have ensured that the roads are well maintained by the local authorities. When it comes to rural electrification, about 75 percent of Mhondoro Ngezi is electrified. By the end of this year all the schools will be electrified as well.
TM: But the share ownership scheme is seen as a Zanu (PF) way of milking foreign-owned companies.
BM: That is a falsehood being spread by the MDC. If it is a Zanu (PF) project, how come community members, regardless of the party they follow, are benefiting?
TM: Again, these beneficiaries are reported to be Zanu (PF) sympathisers.
BM: Those reports are spread by lazy people who always want to depict Zanu (PF) as a devil.
TM: If you were to be re-elected into parliament, what would you add to your list of projects?
BM: I would like to sink boreholes in all branches and increase the number of schools. I would like to give scholarships to people of Mhondoro-Ngezi to further their education and make the area a self-sustained constituency.
TM: Briefly describe the constituency that you are serving.
BM: Mhondoro-Ngezi has about 20 000 registered voters. The district itself has about 80 schools, 15 clinics and two hospitals. It is farming and mining area and holds the potential of being one of the shining economic examples in Zimbabwe.
TM: MPs have been accused of abandoning their constituencies as soon as they are voted into power. What do you say about yourself?
BM: I am not trying to brag but you know about the Constituency Development Fund. There have reports that it has been abused elsewhere, but not with me. Mhondoro-Ngezi was commended for having used the money in a transparent and accountable manner. We were hailed as one of the best constituencies regarding the use of the CDF. We used local authorities and did not duplicate structures.
TM: When you contested against Paul Mangwana in 2005, there was a lot of intra-party violence and in 2008, inter-party violence was pronounced in your constituency. What are your projections for the next elections?
BM: I do not condone violence because it is not good for the community. l am utterly against any form of violence. People normally fight as a result of lack of resources. However my community empowerment scheme has been keeping the people busy and political violence is unlikely next year.
Of course, 2008 was a dark chapter for Zimbabwe. I don’t want to be associated with violence and I hope people will take heed of what the principals have said about violence.
TM: What is your comment on the general view that Zanu (PF) needs to regenerate the party by infusing new blood?
BM: People should understand that Zanu (PF) is an institution and one has to fit into that institution. There are rules and regulations that have been set by the leaders that have to be followed. Even if one is young, he or she has to fit into the system. One way or another, someone will take over but that person would have been absorbed by the system first. You need to show that you are principled and not after personal benefits.
We are talking about a system that liberated the nation, a system that has a powerful history and a system that seeks to empower people. You can’t wish it away just like that.
TM: Are you saying Zanu (PF) should not accommodate the new perspectives and ideologies?
BM: I don’t agree with that perspective. People have to understand that the President (Robert Mugabe) is still there and the people of Zimbabwe have voted him into power.
TM: Is your constituency a beneficiary of the Presidential Input Scheme that has been accused as a vote buying exercise?
BM: Yes, we are on the scheme and we have been a beneficiary since 1980. The President has been assisting since 1980 and why should people say it is a vote buying scheme now? What is the other party (MDC-T) doing? The Prime Minister (Morgan Tsvangirai) is busy splashing money on his wives. Is feeding the people of Zimbabwe a crime?
TM: How would you describe your contribution to Parliament over the past two terms?
BM: When people voted for MPs from 2000, there was general discontent against Zanu (PF) and those MDC people who contested against Zanu (PF) were brave and got voted into Parliament.
TM: Why should it be a case of bravery?
BM: It was not fashionable then to contest against the ruling party. Back to my contributions in parliament, there was this apathy, especially in the 2008 election, but the result is seen in parliament were one exposes his or her lack of capacity to debate policy and understand issues.
You have to understand how policies are crafted and how debates are made.
I am an expert in media issues as a result of my practical and academic experience, having worked and trained at a high level. I trained at Greenwich in UK and worked for BBC. I have also worked for ZBC and was the Herald’s London correspondent. I was at one time the Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity. Right now l am studying for my PhD and my thesis is on the land reform program.
TM: What is your view regarding the Zimbabwean media. What reforms need to be put in place?
BM: The media has been polarised. You should understand that AIPPA and POSA are really nothing when compared to laws in the UK and USA.
Our laws are not draconian. In terms of access to information, I believe it should be available to all the journalists, not just a certain group of journalists. Maybe it’s all about the application of the law. Laws should not protect a particular individual or particular party.
TM: You seized a farm from a commercial white farmer, Thomas Beattie, and apparently reaped what you had not sowed by taking over his thriving lemon plantation. Any regrets?
BM: I didn’t take over Beattie’s farm. I took over government property that was allocated to me. Was I supposed to say no when that land was taken from our ancestors? It is my farm, my property. I have managed to send my children to good schools with the money I get from there. I have lots of cattle and am doing well.
TM: How did you get those cattle? Did you buy them?
BM: Yes, using my own money.
TM: In your Parliamentary committee, you have been accused of protecting Gideon Gono. How true is that?
BM: I have not been protecting Gono. When you say you want to carry out an audit of an organisation, you can only audit a specific period. How do you carry out an audit for something that happened six years ago? Besides, it is not the duty of our committee to carry out the audit. There is a separate committee that deals with that. I said no to the audit because people wanted to smuggle politics into the committee, which is very unprofessional.
TM: What reforms do think have to be in place before we hold elections?
BM: People always talk about elections as though they put food on the table? What is important are the policies of different political parties. If you look at Zanu (PF), there is the indigenisation policy, community ownership scheme and the land reform. I am a beneficiary of the land reform programme and my own master. The fact is, reforms and elections don’t bring change, party policies are more important.
TM: How do you respond to the general perception that Zanu (PF) has been stealing elections?
BM: Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and we cannot be told what to do by outsiders. We have sanctions that have to be lifted because they are affecting our economy. Zanu (PF) is a saviour and people must know that.
Background
In 2006 Matonga, who was the chief executive officer of Zupco, was arrested with his chairman Charles Nherera, on charges of corruption in relation to procurement of buses from India. The case was dropped because crucial documents mysteriously disappeared while in the custody of Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono.
Post published in: News