VP Mnangangwa's legacy of Zvishavane underdevelopment

Zimbabwe yesterday woke up to the news that former vice president, Dr Joyce Mujuru, had been expelled from Zanu-PF.

The development clears a wide gap for her arch rival, Emerson Mnangangwa to be an heir apparent in case Mugabe becomes incapacitated or dies in office.

Without going into Mnangangwa's history as a national figure, people of Zimbabwe need to know what our VP did which contributed to the underdevelopment of his home town, Zvishavane?

ED, as Mnangangwa is known by his fanatics, was born 68 years ago in Mapanzure rural community in Zvishavane. He is a decorated national war hero who earned the nickname "Ngwena" for his political judiciousness.

His former colleague turned foe, Didymus Mutasa, recently described him as a political shrewd who knows how to erase his footprints.

History captures Mnangangwa as a dark angel of underdevelopment in Zvishavane and time has come to let the cat out of the bag.

Zvishavane was experiencing steady development when Cephas Msipa was the member of parliament of the constituency. Several irrigations, schools and roads were developed in the constituency during his time.

Things came to a standstill when the late VP Simon Muzenda left his Gweru constituency for his Gutu rural constituency. His departure led to a fierce battle for the control of Midlands pitting Mnangangwa and the late Richard Hove.

As the battle reached a crescendo, hardworking MPs such as Cephas Msipa were removed and replaced with Mnangangwa's cronies and to be specific his relatives.

First, Pearson Mbalekwa was imposed on the people of Zvishavane in the early 2000s. With no knowledge of the area, Mbalekwa visited the area during his campaigning time and never returned to the constituency.

"I am not your donor, but a link to government," Mbalekwa is alleged to have told members of an irrigation scheme that approached him seeking financial assistance.

When Mbalekwa joined the MDC, the Midlands God-father, Mnangangwa handpicked little known Obert Matshalaga to replace him. A deserving candidate who was popular with the grassroots was barred from contesting on basis that he was too junior in Zanu-PF.

Matshalaga was known for complaining on the state of the roads as if it was the responsibility of the mass to refurbish the roads.

Drama was to come when the constituency was divided into two; Mnangangwa imported his nephew Larry Mavhima to lead the other constituency.

With no history of the constituency, Mavhima become infamous for donating a 10kg of mealie-meal to four households. Instead of refurbishing hospitals and schools, he could come with his wife and start to preach about his successful farming business in Chinhoyi.

As the vortex of Cyclone Mujuru reached Zvishavane, Mnangangwa's influence vanished and his cabals were swept away. Zimbabwe's highly acclaimed Mine Engineer; Fred Moyo became one of the two MPs in Zvishavane.

He began to work closely with Mines in the constituency to ensure that the town gets back to its glory days.

 Gudo-Mhototi-Murowa dust road was graded for the first time since 1995, bridges are being refurbished and we are beginning to see progress.

But, recently a dark shadow of backwardness revisited the constituency. Honourable Fred Moyo was kicked out of Mnangangwa's celebrations for his elevations to the post of the vice president. He was accused of being a Mujuru loyalist.

If what we are hearing is true, he is going to be barred from contesting the next elections. Larry Mavhima is rumoured to be coming back and development of Zvishavane will be put on hold again.

Mnangangwa's legacy of underdevelopment and nepotism will haunt his birthplace again. Zvishavane will forever be known as the mining hub of Zimbabwe, home to Mimosa Mines among other lucrative mines, but shocking the town will continue having one street.

Musavengana Hove is a freelance journalist based in Bulawayo. Email soldierjournalist@gmail.com for feedback.