Give Credit Where It Is Due - Sakubva Homeownership Program

The recent Sakubva Homeownership Program, a significant milestone in Mutare's housing history, has been met with overwhelming joy from the residents. However, an unfortunate trend of misplaced credit threatens to overshadow the efforts of those who genuinely worked for this achievement.

While Zanu PF officials, particularly Esau Mupfumi, attempted to claim ownership of the initiative, it is crucial to set the record straight and give credit where it is due.

The Sakubva Homeownership Program owes its success to the tireless efforts of the City of Mutare's council, led by dedicated councillors and supported by persistent residents. This initiative was born from years of advocacy, planning, and commitment to addressing the housing challenges in Sakubva. It is not the brainchild of Mupfumi, whose attempt to hijack the narrative is both misleading and unjust.

Esau Mupfumi, a Manicaland businessman and Zanu PF official, has a political reputation that pales in comparison to his business success. His political journey has been fraught with failures, marked by dismal performances in elections.

Despite multiple attempts, he struggled to secure support in constituencies like Mutare Central and Dangamvura-Chikanga, only briefly becoming an MP when the opposition boycotted an election. His political shortcomings stem from a lack of genuine connection with the people, exacerbated by allegations of cruel behavior.

It is unfortunate, though not surprising, that Mupfumi seeks to claim credit for a program he did not initiate or significantly contribute to. The Sakubva Homeownership Program began years ago, during a time when Mupfumi's focus was elsewhere.

The program was spearheaded by the council, with the push coming from councillors and residents who have long fought for homeownership in the community.

At the handover ceremony, Mupfumi's actions underscored his tendency to steal the limelight. Although the event was a council initiative, he and other Zanu PF officials attempted to turn it into a party rally, complete with unnecessary slogans. Mupfumi, who had no official role in the program, forced himself into making closing remarks, which were met with indifference by the audience.

Residents of Sakubva and the City of Mutare must not allow history to be rewritten. The credit for the Sakubva Homeownership Program belongs to the hardworking councillors and the resilient residents who pushed for change. It is their victory, not Mupfumi's or Zanu PF's.

Let this serve as a reminder that leadership is about service, not self-promotion. Those who genuinely work for the people do not need to impose themselves on a platform to gain recognition - their actions speak for them.

Mupfumi and others must learn to respect the efforts of those who drive real change and desist from misleading the public with false claims.

The residents of Sakubva know the truth, and it is their voices that matter most.