Opinion / Columnist
Matabeleland MPs irrelevant
04 Sep 2014 at 17:25hrs | Views
I have been following this the eighth Zimbabwean Parliament very closely since it was inaugurated last year.
The sad truth is that Matabeleland just doesn't have any representation in both houses of parliament. One year on nothing of significance and particular reference to Matabeleland has ever been brought into parliament for debate by a Matabeleland representative.
The silence from the MPs would leave one thinking that perhaps Matabeleland is the most developed and trouble free province in the country. Issues from across other provinces are the order of the day in Parliament except Matabeleland. Other constituencies even have the luxury to bring to Parliament even small issues like police officers not controlling traffic from a church congregation. Buhera legislature keeps parliament on its toes even bring it to discuss jackals troubling people in his constituency.
All of Matabeleland's MPs from all parties are dead silent on Matabeleland issues as if they have been ordered to keep quiet on our matters. The rare occasions that they speak is when those that are ministers especially Obert Mpofu has to answer questions as Minister and addressing national or other provinces' issues.
When ever you hear that Thabitha Khumalo wants to say something, you know for certain that she will be talking about prostitutes. Priscillia Mushonga will talk about tampoons and so on and so on. Are these the issues that they were elected for? Matabeleland has a lot of issues that need to be attended to not trivials. We can only start talking tampoons and war vetarans only when we have exhausted our own issues.
One Priscillia Mushonga controversially found herself in parliament on a Mzingwane ticket, has she ever been to Mzingwane since she was "elected"? NO!! Has she ever said anything on behalf of Mzingwane or Matabeleland South? NO!!
I come from Gwanda South and my MP is also the governor for Matabeleland South but has he ever bothered speaking for us the people of Gwanda South? One Edison Gumpo meant to be representing my home town Gwanda spends 80% of his time in Mberengwa and developing Mberengwa.
Why are you not concerned about us as our MPs comrades? We did not vote for you to be given Ford Rangers and warm seats in parliament but to go there and demand development for us. Some of you are busy donating 5 bags of cement to this and that school. Some of you are busy promising to pay funeral policies to people in the constituencies.
We did not elect you to spend your little monies on us. Your monies can never build us roads and bridges. Your little money can never build us hospitals. Your responsibility is not to run around your constituencies donating a little bit of this and a little bit of that and looking and feeling big. Your responsibility is to run around bringing government to bring development to our areas and uplift our lives too. Are you not ashamed when you get to Mashonaland and see the vast difference between them and us?
Grow up comrades lizinuke amakhwapha. Be warned you are all not going back next time we are watching you.
Source - Bekithemba Nare in Gwanda
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