News / Local
Zanu-PF's Tshuma steps up campaign for Mpopoma - Pelandaba constituency
31 May 2015 at 08:40hrs | Views
Zanu-PF member and businessman Joseph Tshuma has stepped up his campaign for the 10 June by-elections in Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency saying that he was ready to serve the people.
Tshuma who has been holding road shows every weekend in the constituency has held a number of rallies with some being graced by the revolutionary party's national leaders who include Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
He has also embarked on "meet the people" rallies where he interfaces with constituents.
"The primary way of getting our country back on its feet is through promoting indigenous products. The primary goal being creating employment for our people and also seeing them contributing towards Zim Asset," he said.
Mr Tshuma, who owns a string of businesses in the city, launched his campaign recently and is believed to have backing of many residents in Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency.
Popularly known as Bra Joe in social circles, Tshuma said he believed if given the chance, he, through the assistance of the party and the people, would work towards resuscitating the country's economy through the nurturing of indigenous resources.
Mr Tshuma, who had previously contested in the 31 July 2013 elections and lost to MDC-T's Bekithemba Nyathi, said he sought to redeem not only himself but the people's party.
The 39-year-old businessman, said despite losing in the last elections, he still stood by the constituency and would never abandon it.
"I will never abandon the constituency. In fact to show that I am part of this place I have been living here for a long time, despite owning properties in other suburbs. I was born in this city and grew up in this neighbourhood. I want to see that people's needs are catered for, while the constituency is also developed," he said.
Mr Tshuma said when he lost in the previous elections people were hoodwinked into believing that Mr Nyathi and MDC-T would deliver change.
"People were led to believe that they would change and develop the constituency but look at the way things are. Instead of developing the area for the people they were interested in fattening their pockets," he said.
"Bulawayo has a few or close to no representatives from Zanu-PF, this is the people's party and is the most dominant and focused compared to others. As its candidate I want to advocate and see that there is change, we want to restructure the industry. Bulawayo was known as the hub of industry that is why it was and is called Kontuthu ziyathunqa.
"People should understand that Zanu-PF gained this country's political freedom and is now working towards attaining economic freedom. The whole point is to free ourselves from the shackles of enslavement from the West as they seek to benefit from us."
He said if voted for he would see to the re-introduction of entrepreneurship projects that would reduce felonious activity among youth.
"We will create and develop income-generating projects that will keep the youth of the streets. We also want to see that the old people's and children's homes too are not forgotten. The seeds we will sow will definitely bear fruits. I will be and am a visible leader; I am not concerned about enriching myself at the expense of the multitudes. I am a people person and I believe in being with the people. If you are going to be a leader then you ought to be with the people," he said.
Mr Tshuma noted that in his endeavour to revive the economy he would focus on empowering those in the informal sector.
"I want to concentrate on the informal sector, we will advocate for a legislation that will cushion our informal sector. There were laws enacted by white people that prevented people from being their own bosses, we should introduce laws that allow people to fend for themselves while also developing the economy.
"We will see that projects such as poultry production are introduced, funded until they are sustainable. We want to be as practical as possible and will not lie to the people and say there will be machinery. We want people to use their hands as this will be a way of creating employment as well," he said.
Mr Tshuma stands among six other candidates, who are independent and a Zapu candidate as well.
Tshuma who has been holding road shows every weekend in the constituency has held a number of rallies with some being graced by the revolutionary party's national leaders who include Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
He has also embarked on "meet the people" rallies where he interfaces with constituents.
"The primary way of getting our country back on its feet is through promoting indigenous products. The primary goal being creating employment for our people and also seeing them contributing towards Zim Asset," he said.
Mr Tshuma, who owns a string of businesses in the city, launched his campaign recently and is believed to have backing of many residents in Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency.
Popularly known as Bra Joe in social circles, Tshuma said he believed if given the chance, he, through the assistance of the party and the people, would work towards resuscitating the country's economy through the nurturing of indigenous resources.
Mr Tshuma, who had previously contested in the 31 July 2013 elections and lost to MDC-T's Bekithemba Nyathi, said he sought to redeem not only himself but the people's party.
The 39-year-old businessman, said despite losing in the last elections, he still stood by the constituency and would never abandon it.
"I will never abandon the constituency. In fact to show that I am part of this place I have been living here for a long time, despite owning properties in other suburbs. I was born in this city and grew up in this neighbourhood. I want to see that people's needs are catered for, while the constituency is also developed," he said.
Mr Tshuma said when he lost in the previous elections people were hoodwinked into believing that Mr Nyathi and MDC-T would deliver change.
"People were led to believe that they would change and develop the constituency but look at the way things are. Instead of developing the area for the people they were interested in fattening their pockets," he said.
"Bulawayo has a few or close to no representatives from Zanu-PF, this is the people's party and is the most dominant and focused compared to others. As its candidate I want to advocate and see that there is change, we want to restructure the industry. Bulawayo was known as the hub of industry that is why it was and is called Kontuthu ziyathunqa.
"People should understand that Zanu-PF gained this country's political freedom and is now working towards attaining economic freedom. The whole point is to free ourselves from the shackles of enslavement from the West as they seek to benefit from us."
He said if voted for he would see to the re-introduction of entrepreneurship projects that would reduce felonious activity among youth.
"We will create and develop income-generating projects that will keep the youth of the streets. We also want to see that the old people's and children's homes too are not forgotten. The seeds we will sow will definitely bear fruits. I will be and am a visible leader; I am not concerned about enriching myself at the expense of the multitudes. I am a people person and I believe in being with the people. If you are going to be a leader then you ought to be with the people," he said.
Mr Tshuma noted that in his endeavour to revive the economy he would focus on empowering those in the informal sector.
"I want to concentrate on the informal sector, we will advocate for a legislation that will cushion our informal sector. There were laws enacted by white people that prevented people from being their own bosses, we should introduce laws that allow people to fend for themselves while also developing the economy.
"We will see that projects such as poultry production are introduced, funded until they are sustainable. We want to be as practical as possible and will not lie to the people and say there will be machinery. We want people to use their hands as this will be a way of creating employment as well," he said.
Mr Tshuma stands among six other candidates, who are independent and a Zapu candidate as well.
Source - sundaynews
