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Acting President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa (centre) is welcomed by Hurungwe West candidate Cde Keith Guzah while Zanu-PF political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere (left) and other party supporters look on at a rally held at Kajekache Secondary School in Mashonaland West yesterday.

Noah Pito in Hurungwe West
Construction of dams in Hurungwe West is one way to improve the livelihoods and welfare of local communities, Acting President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa said yesterday.

Cde Mnangagwa, who was addressing a rally to drum up support for Zanu-PF candidate Cde Keith Guzah at Kajekache High School ahead of the June 10 by-election, said with many streams and rivers in Hurungwe West, the area had potential to transform lives.

“There are so many rivers here yet the water is flowing away without being put to use. Cde (Saviour) Kasukuwere you must take note of this issue. Please make sure this plan is brought to Cabinet,” he said.

“This has nothing to do with campaigning. I am pleased that roads here are being rehabilitated, with buses now plying the road that passes through this point; I have just seen one passing by,” said the Acting President amid wild cheers from hordes of Zanu-PF supporters.

Cde Mnangagwa took a swipe at rural district councils for abusing funds from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) which should be channelled towards rehabilitation of roads.

“There is money that Zinara gives to every rural district council towards roads, but some councils divert such funds towards salaries and the purchase of cars. We need every district to have sound roads,” he said.

Cde Mnangagwa said those who insisted on supporting independent candidate Mr Temba Mliswa should know they were not going any- where.

“People must never be fooled in any way as Zanu-PF is like an elephant, which walks its way without being swayed by barking dogs. Don’t be fooled by Mliswa who claims that you are his people in his palms. Are you his people? I tell you Zanu-PF is a pocket big enough to accommodate everyone who loves it. It is not a pocket that can only accommodate one person,” he said.

“You are the ones who chose him (Guzah). Even us in Harare support the candidate you gave us . . . By voting for him you must know that you are honouring Zanu-PF and not him,” he said.

He urged Cde Guzah to be the servant of Hurungwe West rather than taking the people as his servants.

Cde Mnangagwa called for a peaceful election saying there should never be any violence during campaigns and elections.

“We don’t want violence. We have the power; we have the people, that’s what is needed by our leader and even Jehovah,” he said.

Among those who attended the rally were Secretary for Administration Cde Ignatious Chombo, Senate President Cde Ednah Madzongwe, Secretary for the Commissariat Cde Kasukuwere, chiefs, former secretary for the commissariat Cde Webster Shamu and his wife Constance.