She told The Zimbabwean that being labeled all sort of derogatory names had actually made her stronger and toughened her stance on improving the livelihood of the communities in her constituency.
She speaks to Sofia Mapuranga as she traces her political career, its challenges and unveils what the electorate from her constituency can expect should they give her another chance to represent them in parliament.
SM: Politics is viewed as a male domain. What pushed you into politics?
AK: I have always identified with my party’s values: the emancipation of the black majority. I began championing the developmental agenda for my people after I realised that we were marginalised because of the color of our skin. Seeing the social injustices that was prevalent in my community during the colonial era pushed me into politics. As a young girl, I watched liberation fighters crossing into neighbouring Mozambique and I admired their courage to liberate Zimbabwe.
SM: How did you join the political arena?
AK: I attended secret meetings that were held in my constituency when I was 17 years old and I was elected Shinga ward, Masenda village chairwoman. This marked the beginning of my political career. Although I was a young girl, the community identified my zeal for standing up for social, economical and human rights and I was put at the forefront to champion women’s issues.
SM: From then on, could you please tell the readers how you ended up vying for the parliamentary seat in 2005?
AK: I went to stay in Harare with a relative around 1979 and returned home in 1980. I was elected the branch chairwoman for Chimango district in Mudzi until 1985. In 1989, I became the chairwoman for Shinga district’s ward 1 after Chimango district was split into two. I was still the chairperson for Shinga district when I was elected as the Secretary for Administration for Mashonaland East province, a position that I hold to date. My constituency urged me to contest the parliamentary seat which I won in 2005. I was re- elected in 2008 to represent the same constituency.
SM: You have been fingered in a number of politically motivated violence cases that rocked your constituency before and after the disputed 2008 elections, how far true is it that you have been re- elected because the communities are living in fear of your brutality?
AK: It is true that I have been implicated in a number of politically motivated violence cases in this area, but those allegations are lies. If I was such a violent person, I am sure that the people would have refused to endorse my candidature. The people chose me because of what I have done in the past. The majority of those accusations come from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change because they lost the seat to a Zanu (PF) candidate. They cook up stories to tarnish my image but my hands are clean. Contrary to those assertions, I have been spearheading peace campaigns in my constituency, where we encourage peace and political tolerance. We are currently spreading the gospel of peace where we are saying ‘peace begins with you’. My party recently held meetings with the MDC- T and everyone is at liberty to wear their political party regalia.
SM: Tracing back your two terms in office, what development have you brought to Mudzi West?
AK: I mobilised resources for over 65 women to get passports and they are now cross boarder traders. For those who did not benefit from this initiative, I spearheaded chicken projects. I sourced 700 scotch carts from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and gave to people in this constituency. I assisted a lot of people to get national identity documents. In Chikambazi, Suswe ward, I built teachers’ houses and built 23 toilets at Nyamukoho Secondary School. I initiated the establishment of Mujeyi and Nyamuwanga pre schools in Masarakufa district after I realised that the district was lagging behind in the provision of education for children at that lower level.
I painted Shinga clinic and Chimango primary and secondary schools using the constituency development fund and bought furniture for the secondary school. Kaitano secondary school was in dire need of roofing repairs and I rectified that. At Chingwena primary school, the preschool block floor was deplorable and I repaired it.
SM: Why should the electorate reinstate you as their member of parliament in the forthcoming polls?
AK: I want to make sure that more women get passports. I have plans to establish a business hub for women in this constituency where they will be processing peanut butter for a wider market. Mutoko is the home of peanuts and most of the women are into peanut farming. I am going to set up a centre where we are going to be bottling peanut butter for the whole country and for export to neighboring countries. I also intend to establish a community bank where women are going to be banking their money at low interest charges.
If elected back into office, I am going to improve the road networks and make sure that this constituency becomes the hub of economic activity for the whole Mashonaland East region.
SM: What are the challenges that you have realised to be a barrier to women’s active participation in politics?
AK: Personally, I have been labeled all sorts of derogatory names from being called a prostitute to a witch. Sometimes, obscenities are shouted at you in front of your children and this makes you lose value and respect within society. Most women cannot stand this and they quit. For me, this has made me stronger but what I have learnt is that a woman’s enemy is another woman. We are often used to fight each other. Women can easily be waived to distract and eliminate other women from politics, especially when they are offered a few dollars. I have worked hard for this constituency and I will not lose sleep over people bent on fighting me at grassroots level because I am a tried and tested leader who is geared for the development of my constituency.
Biography
Aquilina Katsande was born in 1961 and she is a widow. She has five children, two boys and three girls. She went to school until Form one.
Post published in: News