Veteran trade unionist eyes Nkayi North

Mahlangu, a member of the Welshman Ncube led MDC, is eyeing the Nkayi North constituency in Matabeleland North. The constituency which is made up of Kana, Gwebela and Nesingwe wards is one of the only three constituencies in the province which were won by Zanu (PF) during the controversial 2008 harmonized elections. Stembiso Nyoni is the incumbent Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for the area. Mhlangu, one of the founder members of the united MDC and a fearless and vocal trade unionist who has clashed several times with his employers , the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ ) over trade union issues says he will fight poverty, underdevelopment and oppression if elected MP during the forthcoming elections.

“I have decided to venture into full time politics because politics and trade unionism cannot be separated. I come from Nkayi North, which has numerous natural resources like timber, wildlife and fertile land. But despite that, the constituency remains one of the poorest in the area. Most of the wards are poor and people travel long distances schools and health centres,” said Mahlangu.

The constituency has 40 primary schools and about 50 percent of school children travel more than 12 kilometres to school every day. According to statistics obtained from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, the constituency’s pupil to teacher ratio is at 39:1, way above the ministry’s recommended ratio of 43:1.

“I want to fight for more schools in the constituency so that our children can travel short distances to school. Some of the schools also need to be reconstructed because they are now in a pathetic state. For example Sivalo School, where I did my primary education, was built in 1917 and most of the buildings structures have developed cracks and are now a health hazard to the children” said the 54-year-old aspiring parliamentarian.

Mahlangu said if elected MP, his vision is to transform the constituency into a green belt through irrigation schemes and other farming projects such as fishery and crocodile farming.

“The constituency is blessed with a big natural resource in the form of Shangani River. It also has fertile land which we can use for irrigation purposes. The vast number of crocodiles in the river, which are attacking human beings and our livestock, can be harvested as a source of income for the villagers through crocodile farming,” he said.

Mahlangu said he had already approached some commercial crocodile farmers who have pledged to assist the local community. He also complained about unscrupulous businessmen who are taking advantage of the poor road network in the area by exploiting farmers by buying farm produces at ridiculous prices.

“One of the immediate things which need to be addressed is the poor road network in the area. Nkayi is nearer to Kwekwe than Bulawayo and we need to construct a tarred road which directly link Victoria Falls via Nkayi and then Harare. The advantage of this road is that farmers will have access to lots of markets,” he said. Mahlangu said his vision is also to link up Nkayi with the rest of the world through the provision of internet facilities and electricity. Currently the local chief and a few health centres have got electricity .The constituency has got seven rural health centres and none of the centres has got a doctor.

Mahlangu said he also intends to take his trade unionism skills to parliament and fight for the rights of workers in the August house.

“These days companies are trampling upon workers’ rights at will. Some workers have not been paid for the whole year and no one has raised this issue in parliament. Some companies are even defying court orders to pay them or reinstate them. I will continue to fight unfair treatment of workers “he declared.

Biography

Mahlangu was born in 1959 in Sivalo area and was education at Sivalo Primary. He did his “O” levels at Inyathi and John Tallack secondary school in Ntabazinduna. He worked for the United Refinery before joining NRZ 1979. He rose through the ranks to become a senior enginemen. He is also the secretary of the NRZ’s Emergency Workers Association.