Matabeleland mainly boasts MDC-N legislators and my question is: since being voted into their offices, what have they done to uplift the livelihood of the masses?
Whenever they hold meetings or rallies they condemn the actions of rival parties, particularly Zanu (PF) and the MDC-T. I don’t intend to muzzle people from airing their views but I just want politicians to come out clean and have something to show for their community work.
Opportunists
Matabeleland is yet to produce people who are politically mature and who have the welfare of the people at heart. In the mean time, we witness opportunists who want to enrich themselves while preaching tribal politics to the masses.
It boggles the mind as to why people we hold in such high esteem stoop so low and brain wash unsuspecting people with dirty tribal politics. They will always bemoan the lack of development in this area and blame it on the ruling party. Since being voted into office more than a decade ago, show me a single borehole that you have drilled, show me one dip tank that you can proudly point at and say it came with you, show me a school that has been built thanks to you, show me a road that has been built or is being maintained just because you are in office.
Mind games
Politicians must stop playing mind games with people who voted them into office. They must stop the blame game and start developmental projects in their constituencies. Elections are just around the corner and the electorate will be looking at your achievements. It is not going to be about how much you drag other people’s names through the mud.
Politicians in Matabeleland will be reminding us about Gukurahundi. That’s what politicians in this region are ready to talk about, especially at election time. Some go to the extent of wanting to personalize the whole issue as if they have exclusive rights to speak on it. While I am a victim of Gukurahundi myself, I feel offended when some politicians use this to gain political mileage.
The people of Matabeleland will never live to receive compensation, to hear apologies, to hear confessions from the perpetrators of that barbaric massacre or be at peace with themselves thanks to politicians in this region. They tend to generalize the whole issue and blame it on every Shona. There is nothing standing in the way of achieving reconciliation and compensation for the victims other than the choice of our representatives in Parliament.
What we want
The people of Matabeleland should stop voting for people who preach divisive politics. Whether someone is Zanu (PF), MDC or Zapu, what remains is that we are all Zimbabweans. These politicians, particularly the MDC-N legislators, don’t have the slightest hint of what the people want. To make it easier for them, here is a list:
– We expect you to be honourable as you are addressed in parliament.
– We expect that when you are elected into office you will work with other legislators regardless of their political affiliation.
– We expect you to live up to your promises that you made in the run up to elections.
– We expect to get feedback from every parliament sitting.
– We expect to see a change for the better in our constituencies.
These are the basics. Please prioritise and address the bread and butter issues. Facilitate birth certificates for orphans, open more universities in the region so children can have access to university education. Until we have seasoned politicians in Matabeleland, the region will be stuck in the past.
Post published in: Opinions & Analysis