. . . Magweba seeks to rescue Harare Central
FOR Cde Loice Magweba, running for the Harare Central National Assembly seat in next month’s by-elections stems from personal disappointments.
The 25 years she has stayed in Hillside have brought her face-to-face with what she terms “irredeemable incompetence”from long-serving local legislator Mr Murisi Zwizwai, who has represented the constituency since the days “Studio 263” was a hit on television.
Cde Magweba (52) who will stand on a ZANU PF ticket on March 26, told The Sunday Mail she has for long watched in despair as the constituency continued to rot.
She said she has had enough. A banker and educationist, she is confident that she will prevail because of the developmental work she has done for the community dating back to 2015.
“I was born in ZANU PF. Three of my brothers fought in the liberation struggle. From then, I have always identified with ZANU PF,” said Cde Magweba.
“I was dormant in the structure because I was working in the banking sector. In 2015, that is when I decided to be more visible.”
Given her strong affinity for community development, she started financing projects in her constituency using her personal savings.
“I have been working with the community long before I thought of becoming a parliamentarian. I believe Parliament will give me a better platform to continue with the work we have been doing so far.
“In 2017, we went to South Africa and we imported car-washing equipment, which we gave to youth in the constituency for them to be empowered and get a chance to earn a living legally.”
She says she has been sourcing funds and foodstuffs for the elderly in old suburbs like Cranborne and Arcadia.
One of her most eminent success stories in development work was when she rehabilitated a playing area at Arcadia Shopping Centre.
“When I realised that there is a drug problem in Arcadia, I tried to understand how the ecosystem was structured. I learnt that drug peddlers were using Arcadia Square, pretending to be running car-wash businesses as fronts.
“I approached the police, City of Harare and residents. We removed the car wash people, bought play equipment including swings, rehabilitated the toilets and fenced it off,” she said.
She has also drilled a number of boreholes in the constituency, with the
latest being the one she donated to the NRZ Compound near Harare’s CBD.
Cde Magweba, however, is under no illusion about the level of work that awaits her.
“Service delivery in the city centre and surrounding suburbs has been on a free-fall. I know some of the roles are supposed to be done by councillors, but our local authorities are not doing any meaningful work. Under such circumstances, there has to be a push from the legislator through lobbying,” she said.
She believes the electorate will give her the responsibility as she brings a better value proposition than other candidates.
“This is the time for the electorate to put their needs ahead and vote for someone who has the capacity to turn things around.
“We have the majority in Parliament; this means if I take their pleas to Parliament, there is a better chance of getting better support than an opposition
MP,” added Cde Magweba.
The aspiring parliamentarian holds a diploma in banking, executive diploma in business leadership, a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, a diploma in banking (Institute of Bankers Diploma 1/2/3 (IOBZ).
She also holds an executive diploma in business leadership (EDBL), a bachelor of education degree (BED), a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with National University of Science and Technology and is currently reading for a doctorate in corporate governance.
Cde Magweba will run against Norest Marara (MDC Alliance), Linda Masarira-Tsungirirai (LEAD), Henry Gwinyai Rukanda (MA’AT Zimbabwe) and Zwizwai Murisi (Citizens Coalition for Change).