I love my country so much: Kurenyi

NS: When did you join politics?

LK: I was born and grew up in family of politicians. So, I cannot specifically say when I joined politics. I became actively involved in national politics when I became part of the MDC at its formation 1999.

NS: Who inspired you to get actively involved in politics?

L.K. Politics ran in my family’s blood. And my husband, who was a member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, also contributed to my decision to be part of MDC at its formation.

NS: So how did you climb the political ladder?

LK: I was elected among the first MDC councillors of Manicaland in 2003. Our term of office was soiled by Zanu (PF) intolerance. MDC Mayor, Misheck Kagurabadza, was fired from office by the Zanu (PF) Minister for Local government, Ignatius Chombo.

As MDC city fathers, we felt discouraged, but we continued serving the community under very difficult conditions. We were also later shown the exit in 2005. Kagurabadza is now MDC-T MP for Mutasa South. I was overwhelmingly voted MP for Chimanimani West in March 2008.

NS: Are you contesting in the coming elections?

LK: It is up to the people. If the electorate wants me to represent them in parliament for the next five years, then so be it. If people prefer another candidate, I will respect their choice and step aside.

NS: What would you regard as your successes regarding service delivery to the community?

LK: They are many so I will mention just some of them. Each of the wards in my constituency benefitted from a school-based project. In Ward 3, using CDF (Community Developments Funds), I constructed a vending shed for vendors selling produce at Chakohwa Business Centre. Vendors’ activities were previously disrupted by rains and extremely hot weather conditions.

I constructed and rehabilitated clinics at Chigwegwe (Ward 9) and Chiramba (Ward 4). I also facilitated building of a nurses’ house at Chiramba. At Mhandaramba School (Ward 2), I provided roofing material for a block of class. Supplied material was comprised of roofing timber and asbestos sheets.

Teachers’ houses at Hot Springs (Ward 5) were renovated. At Nyanyadzi (Ward 8), I rehabilitated canal systems in a bid to enhance farming activities. In the same area, I provided window panes for the whole of Nyanyadzi Primary School and facilitated painting of a block of classes.

In Gudyanga School (Ward 20) I provided roofing material for a collapsed classroom roof. $2,000 went towards reconstruction of Tonhorai Primary School, which was burnt down. in ward 17, Biriwiri-Nyamusungu, the whole of school was renovated, while Muusha Primary School received cement and bricks for rehabilitation of a water tank.

Through my efforts, the Ministry of Water assisted with the repairing of a water pump used at Nyanyadze Irrigation Scheme and paid off a $27,000 debt owed ZINWA by the irrigation scheme.

NS: What would you consider as your failures in public office?

LK: Though notable failures were due to factors beyond my control, I will give special mention to Nyanyadzi and Menhowe Irrigation Schemes. I would have loved these to be rehabilitated and operate full-scale for the benefit of the community. I would like to provide water pumps, for locals to harness water for farming purposes. The failures were due to economic constraints.

NS: What challenges are you facing as an MP?

LK: The challenges are mainly political. My heart bleeds to see innocent families being discriminated against, regarding allocation of government and donor funded in puts. This also applies to relief food which is distributed on partisan grounds. I have become a regular resident at police holding cells, as spurious charges continue to be preferred against me.

NS: After life as an MP, what is your next port of call?

LK: I aspire to be a diplomat and help market my beautiful country to the global world. I love my country so much. As a diplomat, I would aggressively campaign for reunification of Zimbabwe with the rest of the global family.

NS: What type of Zimbabwe do you envision?

LK: I would love to see a Zimbabwe which respects human rights. People must have all necessary freedoms in keeping with modern life. We need equal opportunities for all citizens regardless of political affiliation. As a woman, I would also want a country where women are treated as equal to their male counterparts.

Jobs must be available for all those willing to work. We need food security, and health facilities should be in abundance and accessible to all. Other infrastructures such as roads, schools among others should be up to standard. Remuneration for teachers and other civil servants should be attractive enough to motivate them to do their job whole-heartedly.

Poor pass rates can be attributed to poor school infrastructure and poor salaries for teachers. This must be a thing of the past. I would also want a Zimbabwe in which communities benefit from natural resources extracted from their areas. A situation like the one prevailing, where communities from Chiadzwa are not benefiting from diamonds mined in their area is not acceptable. Other provinces are being developed at the expense of Manicaland and Chiadzwa. This situation must be reversed in a new Zimbabwe.

NS: What chance do you have of winning the next election,if people choose you as their candidate?

L K: 100 percent. No-one has any interest in Zanu (PF) now. It’s all MDC in my constituency.

NS: What would you say about national healing?

LK: The nation has to be healed and people are not accommodative to each other, across the political divide. I do not understand why our political rivals are not tolerant of us as MDC.

When I go to events such as funerals, known Zanu (PF) elements disturb proceedings to express disgruntlement over my presence as MP. People must accept reality and be accommodative of diverse choices.

Karenyi biog

MP Karenyi was born on 21 May 1975, at Nyanyadzi Clinic. The only girl child in a family of seven, she was educated at St. Patricks Mission and then trained as a secretary at Wona College in Mutare.

She holds qualifications in good governance, leadership qualities, gender equality and information technology. She is a loving mother to three children, Lionel Tinashe, Annishah and Marlyn Kore.