'We have never seen them since elections'

Tsholotsho villagers in Matabeleland North province say their Parliamentary elected leaders have deserted them.

"We have never seen them since the day we voted for them on July 31," says Tsholotsho villagers.

In separate interviews, villagers told Radio Dialogue that they feel they are not being represented in Government, as they representatives were "missing in action."

Tsholotsho district is divided into two constituencies, Tsholotsho North where Roselyn Nkomo was elected MP and Tsholotsho South which has Zenzo Sibanda as the House of Assembly representative.

Nkomo belongs to MDC-T while Sibanda is from Zanu-PF.

"These people (leaders) use us year in year out, when they want votes from us, they are very good people who come down here to listen to our problems and vow to fix them, but when they get into office, it's a different story," said Msongelwa Ndlovu of Tshitatshawa village.

He said their sitting MP has not made efforts to come back to them and hear what they expect from Government.

"When we voted for the constitution as well as our MPs we were told that primary education will be for free, now we are made to pay and our representatives have made no efforts to come down here and clarify such issues," said Ndlovu.

He said some of the major challenges include poor roads that make villagers unable to access health and educational services.

A villager from Mbiriya, Sithembekile Tshuma, said most MPs have good news for the people when it is election time alone.

Contacted for comment Tsholotsho North legislator Nkomo disputed claims by villagers that she is not in touch with them.

Sibanda was not readily available when contacted for comment, as his mobile was not reachable.

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