Clr Mafusire meeting some constituency members
By Correspondent
ZANU PF is infamous in Zimbabwe’s urban areas and has earned the moniker of being a rural party.
It controls vast swathes of rural Zimbabwe where it is accused of earning votes through intimidation, coercion and abuse of state resources.
In the urban areas where the same tricks are difficult to apply it has consistently failed to win control.
In Norton urban it has only one seat, while the rest are controlled by the opposition.
However, in that sea of opposition councilors, it is a young ZANU PF councilor who has distinguished himself in Norton.
Ward 11 Councilor Tinotenda Mafusire (26) has been on a campaign to bring tangible and sustainable development to his community.
Since becoming a Councilor after the 2018 elections Mafusire has worked to improve water supply in his Ward.
“We have had challenges with Harare water but we have managed the situation well.
“Recently i drilled a borehole to complement the tap water so that people can get safe water,” he says.
Mafusire has also overseen the construction of a sewer system.
“A lot of developmental activities have taken place in the New Stands area.
“I managed to have a new sewer system in the area which has not had one for over ten years.
“The people had been using blair toilets all along but now we have put a sewer system and they now use flush systems for their toilets.
Change That Is Tangible
In a country where politics revolves around candidates giving food handouts and piles of promises, Mafusire’s ability to bring about tangible development is a fresh approach.
“We had a challenge with tower lights that were not working and we dealt with that.
“They are now working and it has helped with the problem of robbers.
“To complement that i have also set-up a Neighborhood Watch Committee which is very important in this kind of community.
Asked on his prospects for 2023, Mafusire is un-effusive, banking on the willingness of the electorate to give him another chance.
“If the people of Ward 11 want me back, I’m ready full swing,” he says.
However with the country’s macro-economic environment not looking good and the new dispensation government looking as old as ever, the road ahead isn’t easy.
The young councilor may have done well for himself as a candidate but his party remains the biggest stumbling block for him.
He will need to sell himself more than the party to get back into the urban office.
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