I’m tried and tested:Gwanda-Tshitaudze candidate

Mxolisi Ngwenya

Educationist Jastone Mazhale wants another dance in public office. This time around the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member is vying to be Member of Parliament for the newly created Gwanda-Tshitaudze Constituency.

Mazhale who was once Ward 7 councillor, is a former Gwanda Mayor who was recalled in 2020 by MDC-T leader Douglas Monzora after a fallout with Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

After the 2023 Zimstat Population census and delimitation process, a new constituency, Gwanda-Tshitaudze, was created, and is composed of urban, mining settlements, peri-urban and rural areas which were previously part of Beitbridge West. 

The electoral district is a heredity composition of a constituency where there is a need to cater for projects that speak to urbanised people, farmers who are under the resettlement program, artisanal miners and the rural community.

Mazhale who will be contesting for the seat against Zanu PF’s Fisani Moyo and Luckson Ncube of ZAPU, believes that he is the right man to represent the people of Gwanda -Tshitaudze constituency.

He said the achievements that he accomplished as a Gwanda Mayor, especially the construction of Phakama Primary School, before he was recalled, are a sign that he has been tried and tested in developing communities.

“For urban areas, I would quickly like to embark on the construction of the Mtshabezi bridge which has been a death trap for a very long time. It has also made Maphisa road impassable. So that’s one of the major priorities,” said Mazhale.

A lecturer in English at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic, Mazhale knows best the plight of students as they journey the rough terrain of accomplishing their studies and dreams. He believes he is the right man who will solve their accommodation problem.

He also seeks to relocate Gwanda prison from town to a much bigger place that will solve over population of inmates.

“I will push that we come up with a public-private partnership towards the construction of student accommodation for Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic which is one of the busiest institutes of higher learning in Zimbabwe, yet it does not provide accommodation for students.

Because of this, most students are victimised and manipulated by landlords as they charge them exorbitant rental fees, which is unfair to the future leaders of the country who are trying to prepare for their careers by enrolling at the institute.

We also need to relocate the Gwanda Prison, which is in the heart of town, and move it to a more productive area like a farm and create space for other activities like shopping malls or government offices,” he said.

Mazhale’s campaign strategy is premised on youth and land resettlement oriented.

He says youths must be moulded earlier  to create fully fleshed future leaders, thus, he is willing to build a philosophy school that will prepare the youths for tomorrow.

Mazhale added that the land reform program is not reversible, therefore, as CCC they will continue with the liberation struggle mantra of equally distributing land to the citizens of Zimbabwe.

“Youths are only given projects but are not trained to be future leaders. On that note, I want to come up with what I call Youth Institute for Democracy and Contemporary Leadership so that we shape the future of Zimbabwe by cultivating the culture of reading and democracy at a tender age.

As CCC under the leadership of Advocate Nelson Chamisa, we are saying that the land reform program is not reversable. We are continuing with the liberation struggle agenda to ensure that Black people are empowered.We also want to re-capitalise the resettlement areas by providing water and sanitation. You will realise that most of our people were thrown to lands that are not productive. But we want to make sure that for those on new resettlement are on productive farms and get all the social amenities that fit humans. We are known as a mining town; therefore, our mines must be also equipped with latest equipment and technology to maximise profit on our mining activities” said Mazhale.