Zanu thugs destroy MPs borehole

With the Constitution Development Fund (CDF) the MP for the area, Ward Nezi, decided that some of the money should go towards rehabilitation and sinking of boreholes.

However, some Zanu (PF) supporters thought otherwise and decided to destroy the boreholes. Villagers in Ward 13 woke up one morning to fetch water at the new borehole and found that their source of clean water had been destroyed. They were shocked because they knew the people behind the vandalism. We knew the people who destroyed the borehole. There is Nicholas Chakavirika, who is the leader, Jennifer Chirenda the councillor and the person who carried this act of barbarism is More Murinda, said a villager.

Ernest Mudzengi, a political commentator based in Harare who has been following closely the use of the CDFs, said Zanu (PF) would like to prevent MDC officials from effecting meaningful developments. Its a political game. Zanu (PF) is attempting to take constituencies that were won by the MDC. They would like to prevent MDC MPs from using the funds to develop their constituencies, because people would vote for the MDC again, said Mudzengi.

We are happy by the MPs move to effect developments here. Our villages are very backward but now we are seeing some developments. Roads are being reconstructed and kombis coming back, said a villager in Murewa. The presence of the MDC-T in the crises ridden Government of National Unity has brought with it many positives for people, such as the CDF introduced by Finance Minister Tendai Biti, the first of its kind in three decades.

Apparently Zanu (PF) cannot stomach development. Party supporters in Mufakose recently stopped the MP for the area, Paurina Mupariwa, from drilling a borehole. They also stopped co-Home Affairs Minister Teresa Makone from entering her constituency in Hatcliffe.

This is just political intolerance. Zanu (PF) averse to multi-party democracy. They are not concerned about the people who will benefit from developments such as the drilling of boreholes. They are only interested in personal gain, said Mudzengi.

I am not going to be stopped by vandals. I know the person who is behind the destruction of the borehole. Villagers have said that they are going to guard the borehole jealously as they are the people who benefit from the protected water source, said Nezi.

The Minister of Constitutional Affairs Eric Matinenga, who is in charge of the funds, has called for people to accept the developments spearheaded by MPs regardless of the political party tag. When an MP uses CDF funds to buy textbooks for schools in his constituency, those textbooks are not given to children because their parents belong to a certain political party. That is only being done to develop the potential of that child and it is unfortunate that certain people who do not think beyond their noses politicise the CDF, said Matinenga.

However, the message seems to have failed to reach to the ears of Zanu (PF) supporters, who are refusing to embrace development that would benefit the community. Nezi says that Zanu (PF) supporters who are used to having their way wanted him to give them cash instead of a borehole.

They wanted me to give them cash but I could not do that because at the end of the day there must be transparency. All the money that we use must be accounted for and above all people in the community, said Nezi.