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Nqobile Tshili/Mkhululi Ncube/Leonard Ncube, Chronicle Writers 

NEWLY-ELECTED members of the National Assembly and councillors from the Matabeleland provinces have pledged to advance the region’s development interests and hold those in executive positions to account in pursuit of common development goals.

On Friday, the Parliament of Zimbabwe conducted a swearing-in ceremony for both the National Assembly and Senate at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden on the outskirts of Harare.

Speaker of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the country’s 10th Parliament inclusive of 280 National Assembly members and 80 Senators. Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Cde Mabel Chinomona were re-elected as Speaker of Parliament and president of the Senate respectively.

Following the August 23 harmonised elections, Zanu-PF maintains its dominance after winning 176 seats when compared to 103 by CCC after the 60 proportional representation women’s seats were declared last Tuesday along with the 10 special youth seats. One constituency is still vacant with a by-election pending after one of the candidates died before the elections.

In separate interviews, the newly-elected legislators and councillors said they were ready to serve their constituencies and contribute to broader national development.

Outgoing Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, who is also Zanu-PF proportional representative legislator, Cde Judith Ncube, said she was ready to serve Bulawayo residents with distinction.

“My understanding of a member of Parliament is that you should be the messenger. Communities expect you to handle their concerns and also work in crafting laws that address their issues,” she said. 

“So, this is the responsibility I take in assuming this position.”

Cde Ncube said it was pleasing that the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has already addressed some of the challenges obtaining in Bulawayo including power and water shortages. She said the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani is a lasting solution to Bulawayo’s perennial water woes.

“These are the concerns investors would raise when they came to my office, they would ask if there is a reliable source of water and a reliable source of energy,” said Cde Ncube. 

“Now we have responded to those fundamental issues. We still have issues relating to reviving our industries or creating new industries in Bulawayo, which in turn would create more job opportunities for our young people.”

Matobo National Assembly member Cde Edgar Moyo said in line with President Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech, the development trajectory should be sustained in this session of Parliament.

“We need to consolidate what we started, the development trajectory is the hallmark of the Second Republic and we have to continue on that track,” he said.

“As Zanu-PF, we also need to go further to address social aspects of life. We need to address service provision issues, looking at the welfare of workers and all those things. 

“But all these things will happen when there is economic growth and economic growth should result in improved livelihoods.”

Emakhandeni-Luveve Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) National Assembly member, Mr Collins Descent Bajila, said he was not taking his election lightly and will aim to represent Bulawayo’s interest in Parliament.

“We want to set the legislative agenda, we want to push for developmental laws. In particular, we want to push for the devolution of taxing laws in respect to motor vehicle taxes,” he said. 

“They must be collected by local authorities so that local authorities have means on which they can build local roads. I’m confident that the people of Emakhandeni-Luveve would like that.”

Senator Chief Siansali of Binga, who was elected under the National Council of Chiefs, said he would advance the interests of traditional leaders as well as the general public.

“I will represent them in the formulation of legislation that guides them as they execute their duties. The Traditional Leaders Act needs to be aligned with the Constitution,” he said. 

“Also, I need to represent chiefs and people on issues to do with their welfare as well as their communities.”

Chief Siansali said he will also lobby the executive to address other pressing issues in the Matabeleland region including the rehabilitation of Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. 

Several local authorities in the region and across the country including Bulawayo, Bulilima, Victoria Falls, and Beitbridge had sworn in their councillors by the end of last week with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works set to conduct an induction exercise to prepare them for the task ahead. 

In Bulilima District, Matabeleland South, newly elected councillors were sworn in on Friday and vowed to put the development agenda at the front despite political differences. The local authority has 22 newly-elected councillors plus seven who were elected under proportional representation. 

Both Zanu-PF and CCC got 11 seats each in the council with the ruling party leading through the proportional representation. The council’s chief executive officer, Mr Billiat Mlauzi, led the swearing-in process.

In separate interviews, councillors said driving development was at the core of their mandate. Clr Siphosenkosi Mathew Moyo said as a youthful person his voice will be heard in the council so that service delivery is given to the people.

“We will work as a unit despite that we belong to different political parties because people expect service delivery not fights due to political affiliation,” he said.

Clr Mabed Ngulani said he will use his wider contact base and skills from industry and academia to develop his ward and the council.

“Taking the position of a councillor is not a downgrade for me because this was a personal decision. I am really interested in the developmental angle as you know a ward councillor is a developmental officer,” he said.

“We are not going into a competition anymore but co-operation.”

Clr Sipho Sibanda said: “I have been sent here to be my community voice so that we develop our area. I may be from CCC but if you look at some of our wards, we share a lot in terms of service delivery.

“So, we must be united and deliver services to the people,” he said.

Clr Mqondisi Zikhali said the main focus for the councillors should be developing Bulilima district as a whole, not only their particular wards. He said as councillors they should work well with Government officials and the communities.

Clr Annada Moyo said water delivery and empowerment programmes for the girl child are issues that will be a priority.

She said as councillors they should be able to collaborate on development issues despite one’s political affiliation.

Mr Mlauzi welcomed the composition of the new council saying it will result in robust debates.

“We have almost a 50/50 representation from the two main political parties in the country. In as much as one can see it negatively when it comes to effective debates in the council chambers, I see it as a positive move,” he said. 

Mr Mlauzi said he expects the new councillors to focus on issues that will develop the council and move the district forward.

“We are working on a number of clinics and schools and expect this new council to work towards completing these projects,” he said.

“I expect the councillors to work together and that they put politics aside when we enter the council chamber and we talk development.”

In Victoria Falls, the induction for the 14 newly-elected city councillors is scheduled for this week after they all took the oath of office last week. Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube presided over the swearing-in ceremony. These include 11 councillors for the 11 wards elected on August 23 and three women’s quota councillors. All 11 councillors are from Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), which also provided two of the three proportional representation members, with the third coming from Zanu-PF. 

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Dube implored councillors to represent residents diligently while Chamber Secretary Ms Kholwani Mange also reiterated the need to execute duties in a manner that bears a win-win situation for the local authority and residents. The newly sworn-in councillors pledged to address challenges affecting the city, particularly the issue of water challenges where residents endure hot days with dry taps.