News / Regional
Prof Moyo conducts one-on-one sessions with electorate
27 Jul 2013 at 01:06hrs | Views
ZANU-PF's National Assembly candidate for Tsholotsho North Professor Jonathan Moyo has come up with a unique way of campaigning for Wednesday's harmonised elections, which has attracted villagers in droves.
Prof Moyo has shunned the traditional method favoured by a majority of politicians in the country, of gathering people and addressing them in a bid to win their votes.
His highly interactive addresses last less than 10 minutes, followed by one-on-one sessions with the electorate.
On Thursday Prof Moyo had a road show that attracted thousands of villagers.
It started in the Dlamini area, passed through Tsholotsho Centre, Jimila and ended at Sipepa Business Centre.
About 3 000 villagers who "worship" the professor waited patiently for more than seven hours for him to show up and meet them.
When the news crew was about to give up at about 6pm at Sipepa and return to Bulawayo, the number of people waiting for him started swelling, prompting this reporter to ask the cause.
"Asibuyeli endlini, uMoyo uthe uyabuya so siyakwazi ukuthi uzabuya. Kakhulumi amanga njengabanye," said Gogo Bridgette Sibanda (85).
Villagers said they knew he was held up on his road show because he always took time to listen to everyone and never evaded questions and concerns by the electorate.
"When he comes here, we know he will not waste our time by making empty promises. We asked him to explain how Senators will be elected and we know he will do just that. There is no need for him to promise us development because he has tangible sustainable development programmes that he has been implementing in Tsholotsho for years," said Mr Mbongeni Ncube (28).
Villagers sang, danced and chanted Zanu-PF slogans as they waited.
True to the villagers' words, when Prof Moyo eventually arrived at about 9pm, he took less than 10 minutes to explain the process.
Lights were quickly rigged to a generator and villagers set up fires and cooked food, settling in for personal chats with Prof Moyo.
Prof Moyo called one of the villagers to the stage and asked him to list the names of "Team Zanu-PF" in Tsholotsho North and South.
"In Tsholotsho North, we shall vote for Professor as MP, and the South we have Zenzo Sibanda as MP," said the villager.
Prof Moyo who was giving away party regalia for correct answers to his questions, then told villagers that it was important to vote for an all Zanu-PF team in Tsholotsho to ensure coordinated development across the district.
"In Matabeleland, you have been voting for MDCs in the last 14 years, what have they done for you? It is time to go back to Zanu-PF, a party with focus. On Wednesday we should all remember to vote for the captain of the team first, President RG Mugabe, then the MPs, followed by our councillors. We must vote overwhelmingly so that our candidates win with a wide margin. If we win resoundingly, all our Senators will also be elected under proportional representation," said Prof Moyo.
He left the stage and went into the crowd to speak intimately with the villagers.
An old man thanked Prof Moyo for developing Tsholotsho and teaching his South Africa-based grandchildren to develop their homesteads in the district.
"Before Jonathan came into the picture, I used to enjoy good food only when my grandchildren visited for Christmas. For the rest of the year, I lived in extreme poverty, on the verge of starvation. I was dreading the day when they would die and be brought back here with nothing, as was the norm with children who crossed the border. Jonathan taught our grandchildren to develop their homesteads here and start business projects.
"I am better off because of that. That is why on Wednesday I will vote for him and Zanu-PF. Jonathan is a different kind of politician," said the man, after talking to the Professor.
Villagers animatedly narrated countless reasons why Prof Moyo was their preferred candidate for Tsholotsho North.
"He is the one who brought the cellphone network and radio stations' coverage in Tsholotsho. He assisted local business people to get loans from CBZ to boost their businesses. He makes us feel important because he listens to us, instead of 'preaching at us' like other politicians. His programmes have touched people of all age groups positively," said Mr Bongani Tshuma (30).
Mrs Abigail Tshuma (21) said Prof Moyo had developed schools in Tsholotsho and brought meaningful and progressive thinking to villagers, most of whom only aspired to go to South Africa and get menial jobs without terminal benefits.
"When he started working earnestly in Tsholotsho in 2003, there was only one high school. Now we have about 11. Going to school, though not a guarantee for one to get a job or make it in life, gives an advantage. For that alone, my vote belongs to the Professor," said Mrs Tshuma.
Villagers applauded Prof Moyo for spearheading the construction of tarred roads and tower lights in the district, saying he was a unique man who always thought of his roots and brought progress wherever he went.
Prof Moyo has shunned the traditional method favoured by a majority of politicians in the country, of gathering people and addressing them in a bid to win their votes.
His highly interactive addresses last less than 10 minutes, followed by one-on-one sessions with the electorate.
On Thursday Prof Moyo had a road show that attracted thousands of villagers.
It started in the Dlamini area, passed through Tsholotsho Centre, Jimila and ended at Sipepa Business Centre.
About 3 000 villagers who "worship" the professor waited patiently for more than seven hours for him to show up and meet them.
When the news crew was about to give up at about 6pm at Sipepa and return to Bulawayo, the number of people waiting for him started swelling, prompting this reporter to ask the cause.
"Asibuyeli endlini, uMoyo uthe uyabuya so siyakwazi ukuthi uzabuya. Kakhulumi amanga njengabanye," said Gogo Bridgette Sibanda (85).
Villagers said they knew he was held up on his road show because he always took time to listen to everyone and never evaded questions and concerns by the electorate.
"When he comes here, we know he will not waste our time by making empty promises. We asked him to explain how Senators will be elected and we know he will do just that. There is no need for him to promise us development because he has tangible sustainable development programmes that he has been implementing in Tsholotsho for years," said Mr Mbongeni Ncube (28).
Villagers sang, danced and chanted Zanu-PF slogans as they waited.
True to the villagers' words, when Prof Moyo eventually arrived at about 9pm, he took less than 10 minutes to explain the process.
Lights were quickly rigged to a generator and villagers set up fires and cooked food, settling in for personal chats with Prof Moyo.
Prof Moyo called one of the villagers to the stage and asked him to list the names of "Team Zanu-PF" in Tsholotsho North and South.
"In Tsholotsho North, we shall vote for Professor as MP, and the South we have Zenzo Sibanda as MP," said the villager.
Prof Moyo who was giving away party regalia for correct answers to his questions, then told villagers that it was important to vote for an all Zanu-PF team in Tsholotsho to ensure coordinated development across the district.
"In Matabeleland, you have been voting for MDCs in the last 14 years, what have they done for you? It is time to go back to Zanu-PF, a party with focus. On Wednesday we should all remember to vote for the captain of the team first, President RG Mugabe, then the MPs, followed by our councillors. We must vote overwhelmingly so that our candidates win with a wide margin. If we win resoundingly, all our Senators will also be elected under proportional representation," said Prof Moyo.
He left the stage and went into the crowd to speak intimately with the villagers.
An old man thanked Prof Moyo for developing Tsholotsho and teaching his South Africa-based grandchildren to develop their homesteads in the district.
"Before Jonathan came into the picture, I used to enjoy good food only when my grandchildren visited for Christmas. For the rest of the year, I lived in extreme poverty, on the verge of starvation. I was dreading the day when they would die and be brought back here with nothing, as was the norm with children who crossed the border. Jonathan taught our grandchildren to develop their homesteads here and start business projects.
"I am better off because of that. That is why on Wednesday I will vote for him and Zanu-PF. Jonathan is a different kind of politician," said the man, after talking to the Professor.
Villagers animatedly narrated countless reasons why Prof Moyo was their preferred candidate for Tsholotsho North.
"He is the one who brought the cellphone network and radio stations' coverage in Tsholotsho. He assisted local business people to get loans from CBZ to boost their businesses. He makes us feel important because he listens to us, instead of 'preaching at us' like other politicians. His programmes have touched people of all age groups positively," said Mr Bongani Tshuma (30).
Mrs Abigail Tshuma (21) said Prof Moyo had developed schools in Tsholotsho and brought meaningful and progressive thinking to villagers, most of whom only aspired to go to South Africa and get menial jobs without terminal benefits.
"When he started working earnestly in Tsholotsho in 2003, there was only one high school. Now we have about 11. Going to school, though not a guarantee for one to get a job or make it in life, gives an advantage. For that alone, my vote belongs to the Professor," said Mrs Tshuma.
Villagers applauded Prof Moyo for spearheading the construction of tarred roads and tower lights in the district, saying he was a unique man who always thought of his roots and brought progress wherever he went.
Source - chronicle
