Chinomona bids farewell to former constituency . . . Rugeje preaches peace, unity
FORMER Mutoko North legislator Cde Mabel Chinomona last weekend bade farewell to people in her former constituency which she gave up after she was elected Senate President.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a campaign rally at Mutoko Centre, Cde Chinomona thanked party supporters for rallying behind her during the period she was their MP.
“Today I am happy to be talking to you as your mother who have been in this constituency for the past 20 years as your representative in Parliament,” Cde Chinomona said.
Cde Chinomona then called on the supporters to rally behind her successor Cde Rambidzai Nyabote, who won in the just-ended Zanu-PF primary elections and would be representing the party in the by-election for the constituency set for this month. She said that she was confident that the constituency would be in safe hand under Cde Nyabote
“Today I am handing over the reigns of this constituency to you and everything in it,” said Cde Chinomona.
“I have been in this constituency for the past 20 years and maybe I should tell you the secret behind my long stay.
“I did not tolerate gossip, and I worked hard for these people and represented them ZANU-PF national political commissar Cde Engelbert Rugeje has urged ZANU-PF supporters in Mutoko North Constituency to remain united and peaceful ahead of the November 24 by-election.
He made the remarks while addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally held at Mutoko Centre last Friday.
“I came here primarily for two things,” he said.
“I came here to thank you for standing by your party ZANU-PF in the July 30 harmonised elections. As you all know, Cde Mabel Chinomona was appointed President of the Senate recently and as per our constitution, she must leave the constituency seat and focus on her new office.
“By virtue of that, this constituency seat is now vacant and we must replace her, so we are going to have a by-election on November 24, where we are going to defend our seat.”
well. I also respected everyone. These people want to be served, be a servant leader and be fair in all your decisions that concern them.”
Cde Chinomona also called for unity THE prevailing high temperatures have dealt a devastating blow to Rushinga villagers in Mashonaland Central as most water bodies in the area are drying up.
The villagers are now appealing for more food aid and for assistance as their livestock are now getting stuck in the mud as they try to access the small water patches in some dams.
The legislator for Rushinga, Cde Tendai Nyabani, confirmed the development and said most dams were silted and urgently need de-siltation.
“Our dams are drying up,” he said. “This was last experienced in 1962. We are losing our wealth on a daily basis as our cattle are getting stuck in the mud while trying to access water.
“More than 100 beasts have been lost so far and it is a devastating blow as we are also grappling with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Cde Rugeje called for unity and peace, and reminded the party supporters that the era of divisions after primary elections was over.
He urged party supporters who voted for different candidates during the primary elections held last month to rally behind the winner Cde Rambidzai Nyabote and seal the party victory on November 24.
“I know you held your primary elections, and I know also that people here voted for their candidates and some of you were disappointed after your candidates lost to the winner,” said Cde Rugeje.
“What I want to urge you today is to bury your differences and advance the interest of the party. Let’s all rally behind the winner, the person who will represent all of us in the by-election, he needs your support.”
Cde Rugeje called those who lost to Cde Nyabote to the podium and instructed them to be his campaign managers
and love, which she said was critical in strengthening the party at every level.
She urged people of Mutoko North to set aside differences that arose as a result of primary elections and rally behind Cde ahead of the by-election.
National secretary for war veterans Cde Victor Matemadanda echoed Cde Rugeje’s sentiments and urged party members to mobilise more support for the party and dilute the opposition’s influence in the district.
“In the harmonised elections, we won by more than 16 000 votes, this time around we want to bag more votes than that,” Cde Matemadanda said.
“But let me say I was surprised during the harmonised elections, that the opposition went away with 3 000 votes, where did they come from, how did that happen. It should be a thing of the past for an opposition party to grab such a big number of votes here.
“Let us show them that what happened in the harmonised elections can never be repeated in Mutoko North Constituency.”
Cde Matemadanda said victory was certain only if there was unity in the party.
Nyabote. “I urge you all to do what you have been doing during my time, you gave me unwavering support, so I am asking you to do the same to Cde Nyabote. Give him all the support he needs,” she said.