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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
Incoming Shurugwi South National House of Assembly member Cde Edmond Mkaratigwa says rural development for his constituency will be a top priority during his tenure.

Cde Mkaratigwa who garnered 12 790 votes, beating five other contesting candidates, said he would seek to promote rural development projects in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision to accelerate rural development.

“I am grateful for the trust that I have been given by the people of Shurugwi South constituency,” he said.

“We are in a celebratory mood as most council seats were taken by Zanu-PF. That makes work easy because we speak the same language. I was expecting up to 20 000 votes but due to various reasons, other supporters did not manage to vote.

“Myself, and my party Zanu-PF were already poised to win because I am already implementing realistic projects in communities.”

Cde Mkaratigwa said Zanu-PF is a people-driven party and the votes garnered across the country have endorsed the masses’ confidence and dependability on it.

“I am motivated to improve my constituency, which is mainly rural. My priorities include improving the transport network as there is an urgent need for a tarred road linking Tongogara and Chachacha growth points,” he said.

He said the people in his constituency are eager to develop their area and transform their livelihoods.

“While I will be representing the people in Parliament, I also have a facilitation role because in some instances, I just have to be the coordinator between community and development partners. Living in the rural setting must never be taken as a symbol of poverty but the backbone of the economy.”

Cde Mkaratigwa said he has a plan to improve farming methods in his constituency which is in agricultural ecological region four.

“I have a plan for agricultural development where all farmers in my constituency are going to be trained on best practices in order to improve their yields.

Government has come up with the Command Agriculture programme, and the training would complement it. I reckon that my constituency is in a dry region, but that should not be a setback for securing household food security.”