Plans for peace and prosperity: Elliot Pfebve

MC: What motivated your decision to enter politics?

EP: I was educated in Dande Valley during the liberation struggle of the 70s. This was my source of inspiration to join politics as I experienced the worst injustice during that time.

Growing up in protected concentrated villages and at a later stage in liberation zones under the guerrillas’ control propelled my zeal for politics. We had no toys and only saw guns everywhere – big and small. I was also touched by fellow students who had their legs blown off by anti-personnel mines in school grounds, some of them I still see today limping on one leg.

I went for form 1 at Mavuradonha Boarding School and became involved in various debates. I enjoyed speech nights at a young age in most cases fiercely arguing with war veterans who had resumed their education after the war. Some of them were 35 years old in form one.

I then went to Glen High 1 School in Harare, ending up being President of the school Magazine Club. I was for printing what the school authorities felt was offensive to authority – a statistic of the number of female students who dropped out after being impregnated by teachers. It didn’t go down well with the headmaster and I was dismissed but appealed to the Ministry of Education and won on appeal. For A ‘Levels I went to Allan Wilson in Harare where I challenged racism against blacks and became student president.

MC: Some disgruntled MDC-T members and supporters feel that their members in the diaspora who they labelled ‘opportunists’ are only coming back home to join what they think is the completed race. What is your view?

EP: I cannot rule out that there will be some in that category but there is danger in painting everybody with the same brush. I am not one of them. If the MDC follows its candidate selection criteria then those who are will be weeded out. If they bend the rules then some will get through the net. I am a founder member of MDC and have always been an active member.

Outside the country I have been travelling widely to publicise the party in Geneva, Lisbon, New York, Washington DC, Sweden and Ireland. I also have taken an advocacy role international through many international media organisations. I am glad that my constituency know this very well and it has not been an issue. I also have done various projects on behalf of the party including being a founder of the MDC Research Library at Harvest HQ.

MC: There has been much discussion about the criteria for candidates to qualify for MDC-T primary elections. Are you certain to participate in the primary elections?

EP: Yes, I meet all of them plus much more!

MC: Zanu (PF) has always won your constituency with constant reports of violence. Why do you think you can win the seat this time around and don’t you think you will fall victim to their violence?

EP: Bindura was always a centre of violence. In the past Zanu (PF) candidates in the area were brutal. While I cannot promise a violence free election, I can assure you that the terrain has changed, a new constitution, telecommunications that allow instant alerts and a new generation of voters that will not take intimidation lightly. Above all I am now old enough to be understood. Even at a time when violence was at its maximum, I never went underground, I was visible burying the dead and nursing the injured, I will use my hand of reconciliation to reach beyond party lines.

MC: What’s on your mind about your constituency?

EP: Bindura North is classified as an orphaned seat as its MP Elliot Manyika died long back. Nothing has happened since. I think politicians of all parties must do away with a belief that because we have ideological differences, we are enemies. We must meet and come up with a charter to ensure that violence is a thing of the past.

MC: If you become MP for Bindura, what are some of the first things you will do?

EP: Bindura is rich yet impoverished. We have the biggest gold producing mine in the country, Ashanti; we have the biggest Nickel producing mine, Trojan, and a rich agriculture belt capable of producing enough to feed the entire country, yet we have nothing to show for it in terms of development.

My first task will be to work with those mine owners to invest in local communities. Secondly I will advocate for an ambitious reform, “if made/grown in Bindura then it must be processed in Bindura”, that way we will have finished goods industries adding value to the people through jobs and social mobility.

Thirdly, I want to see rehabilitation of the sewage works. Chipadze suburb at the moment is a health time bomb as bust pipes are a perpetual problem. The infrastructure has surpassed its capacity. I am an environmentalist who has written a book to advise others globally, I want to put it to work in my constituency.

The provision of reliable electricity to boost investment is also of paramount importance. And I believe access to clean water should not be a privilege of the rich but the right of every resident. Improvement of water works and further expansion through hydro or thermal electricity generation is a possibility.

MC: Having spent over a decade in the diaspora how would you advise those in exile to contribute to the social, economic and political processes back home?

EP: Exposure to the outside world is very important both for exchange of skills and skill acquisition. Zimbabweans have nothing to fear from their returning fellows, instead they should formulate an investment synergy to tap their skills base.

There are many examples throughout the world where Diaspora have played a catalyst role to development. Many people in the Diaspora have furthered their education and will improve the socio-economic welfare of our nation.

MC: What are the chances of a free and fair election?

EP: This has always been the fear of MDC and indeed that of Zimbabwean people. However if the new constitution is followed to the letter then no one will have a chance of rigging. But people have to be vigilant.

They have the capacity to change their lives for the better – but only if they safeguard their hard earned votes.

It’s a collective responsibility, it’s not only an MDC responsibility, and we also challenge progressive Zanu (PF) supporters to refuse to be used to derail the people’s choice.

About Elliot

Married with four children, Pfebve holds a BSc sustainable Development and Climate Change, MSc Management Information Systems, Masters of Business Administration, Certificate in Civil Conflict Resolution and Mediation, cert. Social Enterprise Business Management and is also a MBCITP- Chartered IT Professional.