MN: Can you take us through your experiences as Matobo MP?
LM: I had little experience, information or knowledge of what a parliamentarian should have, but through international exposure and getting to understand more about the people I represent, I have gained a lot of experience on how to articulate issues of both national and international importance. My representation of the people has also improved in that I have been able to articulate better their concerns. I have been in touch with the people and in my own assessment, I have had fruitful work and representation. I have also been there to initiate, witness and commission some developmental projects in the area.
If you go there now, you will find many roads under construction. Maintenance is now visible. We have managed to totally reconstruct the road from Kezi to Speru business centre and also the turn-off road to the Thilikwe Road, through Marinoha to Bidi Road, cutting short the distance for those wanting to go to areas like Bidi and Malaba. There are also some improvements on the Bulawayo-Kezi road. Of course, these are minor, but it’s a push that I was part of in terms of representation. These are national projects, but as an MP, the best that you can do is speak loud and try to facilitate such projects.
Many boreholes have been drilled by friendly NGOs. I have successfully spoken to World Vision and Christian Care, encouraging them to take part in our projects. This has seen them coming in to feed disadvantaged children and the poor.
MN: What challenges did you face?
LM: The challenges have been much more pronounced for me than many of my predecessors. There have been numerous attempts by a few individuals within Zanu (PF) to frustrate development. On many occasions, they have tried to block projects. Some people had been brainwashed by Zanu (PF) to an extent that they did not believe anything positive could happen. Some communities are still so fear-ridden that their participation in developmental issues is minimised.
MN: Has your position as Speaker of Parliament seen you drift away from the people?
LM: I don’t think any gap has been felt by my constituency because I have still been in touch with the people. I have also addressed more meetings in the constituency than most of the sitting MPs, briefing people on the latest political developments, including on the draft constitution and referendum. I have also given feedback on that and since January, I have been more visible in the constituency. I am therefore, also confident that I will be retained as MP for the area because no-one has been so hands-on in years, to make the people wish they could replace me.
MN: What would be your immediate goals, should you be re-elected?
LM: I would like to push for reduced poverty through a number of developmental programmes, some already started and planned. Issues of development, like the road network, should also go on and be more pronounced in the district as one of my priority issues. It was not easy to fully make some of these bold moves while being an MP under the current executive, which determined how resources would be distributed. But with the strides we have made now, imagine what would happen under a wholly MDC government! I dream of a constituency free of poverty, fully irrigated and where roads are good enough to attract investment. I dream of a Matobo that is well-marketed as a popular tourist resort and a growing animal population that preserves the district’s status as one of the world’s best-known tourist destinations.
I also dream of a Matobo that keeps producing some of the country’s inspiring national leaders. This has happened before – eg former Vice President Joshua Nkomo and Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo.
MN: What are your party’s chances of winning the next election?
LM: We have been winning the elections since 2000, but the biggest challenge has been the transfer of power. We think we have worked well around that and should we win this time, we will take over power. People know that the MDC-T is the only party that is a brand, which is also being led by a leader who is also a brand – Morgan Tsvangirai, who is trusted. Unless we experience large scale rigging and intimidation again, Zimbabwe will have a new government and new President, come August.
Post published in: News