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Mkhululi Ncube, [email protected] 

IT is mostly in traditional leadership roles that sons or daughters replace their fathers and mothers upon their death and hardly so in politics.

However, Zanu-PF Ward 14 Umguza district in Matabeleland North Cde Delay Ncube did exactly that.

His father, Cde Albert Ncube who passed on in 2021 had served as a councillor for the same ward for 13 years.

Cde Ncube said he ‘contested’ for his father`s seat following a blessing from his community which pleaded with him to represent their interests. “I was born in politics and my late mother Cde Pasca Ncube was a member of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators while my father was a war veteran. Politics chose me and I was groomed by my father as early as 2000 when the land reform programme started,” he said.

“When war veterans occupied farms, my father would take me along with him. When he died I can safely say he had done his job in producing a politician in me. It was only natural for me to continue with his legacy and be a councillor for ward 14 in Umguza District.”

Cde Ncube said the local community unanimously chose him to continue spearheading development in the ward.

“The community said I should take over from where my father had left off since I was always on the ground and working with the communities to find solutions to their challenges. During the March 2022 by–elections, I put my name and won unopposed,” he said.

“I do not know whether opposition parties will bother fielding a candidate, but even if they do I know Zanu-PF will emerge victorious.”

Cde Ncube served as Zanu-PF Youth League Matabeleland North provincial chairperson between 2012 and 2014. 

“I have a passion for development and since I represent people mostly in resettlement areas, we have a number of challenges development-wise, which need to be addressed. We need clinics, schools and water,” he said.

“One of my biggest headaches is George Silundika Primary School which does not have proper infrastructure and we still have some of our children in schools like Zikhululeni and Fuzo primary schools attending class in horse stables.”

Cde Ncube said his vision is to work with other stakeholders to install solar-powered boreholes in the ward.

“We have schools such as Mqabuko Secondary School which has inadequate staff accommodation. I am glad that the Second Republic availed devolution funds which we are using to speed up these projects,” he said.

After winning the primary elections uncontested, Cde Ncube said he is confident that he will retain the seat for the ruling party.

“Council sources of funding are mostly from rates and therefore there is also a need to push council projects that generate money so that we widen the revenue collection base. There is also a need to speed up the disbursement of devolution funds so that projects are completed,” he said.

Cde Ncube holds a diploma in development studies from Lupane State University.

He attended primary school at Nketa Primary in Bulawayo before proceeding to George Silundika High School in Nyamandlovu. —@themkhust