Matobo residents cry foul over unfulfilled promises

Rumbidzai Mhlanga

MATOBO-Disillusioned Matobo residents are calling for politicians to fulfill promises they make during campaigns. 

The call was made during a round table meeting with residents in Matobo last week  hosted by Community Podium.Sikhululekile Ndiweni, a resident, said most people in the area have given up on  electoral participation because leaders  tend to ignore their own promises after being elected.

“The reason most of us do not register to vote is because during campaigns, politicians make so many promises which they do not fulfill. We expect them to prioritise our needs but it never happens. For instance, going by their promises, by this time we should be having tarred roads but we do not because after being elected they do not bother to take action. Such behaviour by politicians makes  it pointless  to take part in elections because it is of no benefit to us.  If only leaders do things differently and try to honour their promises  this voter apathy could end,” said Ndiweni.

“Registering to vote and voting tends to be stressful and futile because those we chose to represent us in  Parliament and councils do not live up to expectations. Instead of prioritising our interests they go on to suppress our voices and tell us what to do. These people are always good to us when they are campaigning but when in power they become unapproachable. Encouraging people to register to vote when it does not benefit them is a challenge,”  said Khumbulani Moyo, another resident.

Matobo Youth Development Initiative (MYDI), Director, Descent Dube said residents should work closely with  their leaders so that they can easily hold their leaders to account in terms of fulfilling electoral promises. 

“When residents play their role of taking part in electing their community leaders they must also work together with elected leaders to ensure residents’ interests are met. We want an improvement in service delivery. A bottom-up approach will help residents track improvements in service delivery as promised,” he said.

Dube took advantage of the occasion to urge residents to register to vote. “We have a responsibility to save our Matobo South Constituency and we must advise as many people as we can to register to vote. Let us play our role, register to vote in numbers,” he said.