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Lloyd Gumbo and Diana Nherera Harare Bureau
NEWLY-ELECTED Zanu-PF National Assembly members took the oath of office yesterday and immediately pledged to deliver for their constituents to ensure the revolutionary party retained the seats in future elections. National Assembly Speaker, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, notified the House of the election of the 16 Zanu-PF representatives in the June 10, 2015, by-elections.

The polls were triggered by the recalling of MPs by Zanu-PF and the MDC-T before their tenure of office had lapsed.

Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, swore in the MPs as their Zanu-PF colleagues ululated while MDC-T MPs bowed in shame.

The new MPs are Professor Jonathan Moyo (Tsholotsho North), Cdes Isau Mupfumi (Dangamvura-Chikanga), Keith Guzah (Hurungwe West), Terence Mukupe (Harare East), Omega Hungwe (Dzivarasekwa), Betty Nhambu (Kuwadzana) and Tinashe Maduza (Kambuzuma).

Others are Cdes Psychology Maziwisa of Highfield West, Glen View South’s Pius Madzinga, Headlands’ Christopher Chingosho, Mbizo representative Vongaishe Mupereri, Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube (Makokoba), Joseph Tshuma (Mpopoma), Maidei Mpala (Lobengula), Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo (Luveve) and Pumula’s Cde Godfrey Malaba.

In separate interviews after the swearing in ceremony, the legislators said their aim was to reclaim the seats from the opposition for good.

Prof Moyo, who is the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, said his election would go a long way in addressing the needs of the people in Tsholotsho North.

“The people of Tsholotsho spoke in very telling numbers, in fact unprecedented numbers, and their voice has just been formalised by my taking of the oath along with 15 other colleagues from the other constituencies,” he said.

“Effectively, this is tantamount to getting our marching orders. We’re now Members of Parliament representing our respective constituencies.

“The real work has started in the formal sense because certainly, in our case in Tsholotsho North, there is a huge expectation that the voice that has been formalised will find expression through speaking (in the National Assembly), not silence as it did over some 20 months or so with the former and expelled then MP for Tsholotsho North (Roselyne Nkomo).”

Cde Maziwisa said the MDC had failed to fulfil the aspirations of the urban constituents since its inception despite being voted consecutively.

“But thank God, those constituencies have come to people who’re capable of showing and demonstrating leadership,” he said.

“Zanu-PF is a tried and tested party that has a record of demonstrating good leadership. I’ve no doubt at all that in the coming weeks, coming months, and indeed in the coming few years, we’ll see real tangible evidence that we are working and moving in the right direction.”

Cde Hungwe said she would come up with developmental projects in her constituency including the establishment of a Vocational Training Centre as a way of empowering the youths.

Cde Malaba said people in his constituency now have a proper representative who would take their views to Parliament and have them addressed.

“I’m going to try and cover the gap that currently exists and embark on other developmental projects that they’ve been missing for the past 15 years,” said Cde Malaba.

Cde Mlilo added: “I promise to be honest with the people of my constituency as this is a community programme.”