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These are the strong words of Zanu-PF candidate for Gutu North Cde Tichafa Madondo (44), a practical man who says he will not promise heaven to the people of Gutu North, but will encourage hard work among them.

“Our people need to understand the importance of working hard. I am not going to give them money for projects as that promotes laziness. I am going in as an enabler, as someone who will only help people realise their dreams. I will teach them to be self-sufficient and not look for outside help. I don’t want to promise things that I will not be able to do like what has happened with the former MDC-T representative. I promise real activity for the people of Gutu North.

“Am happy that I have active men contesting under the Zanu-PF ticket in Gutu district and we will work together to improve the welfare of our area. I am in this election to regain the seat for my party and nothing less,” he said.

Dr Paul Chimedza is contesting for Gutu South while Cde Tongai Muzenda will represent Gutu West on the Zanu-PF ticket in the harmonised elections. On July 31, Cde Madondo will battle it out with MDC-T’s Dr Tichinani Mavetera and MDC’s Mr Emmanuel Toperesu for the constituency. In 2008 MDC-T won the seat and was represented in the House of assembly by Mr Hamandishe Maramwidze.

The 44-year-old businessman, former civil servant and IT guru said he was propelled into politics as a boy after his father was killed for supporting Zanla during the liberation struggle. Though he was not active, he remained abreast with political developments in the party.

In 1995 Cde Madondo joined Zanu-PF but because he was employed in the civil service, kept a low profile in the party.  For 22 years he was a Government employee and his involvement in party activities was low key. He could not hold office as the civil service regulations did not permit it.

“In 2008 I attended a district meeting in the constituency when one of the participants stood up and challenged me to represent Gutu North. He said the party shouldn’t have problems when it had people like me among its members? I was taken by surprise as I hadn’t given it a thought. I declined the offer but the party leadership in the area kept sending                                                                                               emissaries to me. I was then secretary for production.

“Whenever I would attend a district meeting, I would be asked to give the post a shot, so in 2009 I made my mind that come elections I would put my name for elections. When the time came I entered the race in primaries. I am now looking forward to regaining the seat for Zanu- PF,” he said.

Cde Madondo said there were a number of programmes that he had on his desk and would only reveal then as they were ripening.
“Given my experience in the civil service I will be knocking at the right doors to ensure success for the different projects that I have in mind for the constituency. Once I have the necessary support for them I will be announcing the projects. I want promises that are fulfilled. It is not good to give promises that you will not accomplish.

“One other thing that I will do is sponsor marketing gardening in the constituency. It is unfair that people have to import vegetables from Harare when we have dams lying idle in the area. I will help those willing to work.

“My policy is to assist those who would have produced. For instance if you bring in 10 carts of vegetables I won’t hesitate to seek funding for you to get a water pump. What I can assure horticulture farmers in my constituency is I will help find the market and provide transport to these markets.

“My people know my track record, they know what the party has done and what the other parties have done and that knowledge will surely propel Zanu-PF to regaining the city. Mr Maramwidze did nothing for the people and my people now want tangible results,” Cde Madondo said.

Cde Madondo said he would encourage the growing of drought resistant crops so that people would be assured of food every year saying it was critical that people stop relying on donor aid.

He would also ensure that people in his area, a predominantly farming area, got inputs in time.
“I will encourage projects like cattle rearing and those who do well will be rewarded. We used to have ranches in Gutu but our people have abandoned that. My wish is to revive those projects so that people in the constituency can raise money,” he said.

Cde Madondo is married to Tamara Madondo and the couple has five children.
He said Zanu-PF would definitely win the harmonised elections as the people were fed up with the manner the MDC formations had abused their time in Government.

Cde Madondo predicted victory for Zanu-PF in Gutu and a majority in the country saying people had realised the mistake they had made by voting MDC-T into government. Instead of focusing on their mandate- to develop the country, the party was busy trying to score points against Zanu-PF.

“I will deliver a victory for Zanu-PF and the vote for President Robert Mugabe in Gutu West. Come August it will be all joy for Zanu-PF members in Gutu,” Cde Madondo said.