By Wezhira Munya
In a remarkable display of community empowerment, the hardworking pro-Chamisa Gutu Central 2023 harmonized elections parliamentary candidate, Honorable Matthew Takaona, has been tirelessly working to uplift the lives of the marginalized citizens in his constituency.
Speaking from London, United Kingdom, where he is on a working visit, Honorable Takaona informed Change Radio that, “We, the supporters of President Nelson Chamisa, are working flat out to develop our Gutu Central. We want the citizens of Gutu to have safe and well-maintained roads.”
Takaona, a multi-award-winning journalist who heads the popular Masvingo-based newspaper The Mirror, recently sponsored thirty-three youths to clear the grass and trees along the neglected Gutu-Buhera road. This crucial initiative was aimed at improving road safety and accessibility in the area, which has been plagued by numerous accidents due to the overgrown vegetation.
The current Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Gutu Central, Chitando, has been criticized for his failure to address the poor state of the roads in the constituency. In contrast, pro-Chamisa’s 2023 harmonised council candidate for Ward 35, Tendai Jebheni, led the youth and other party members in the road-clearing exercise, underscoring the opposition’s commitment to addressing the needs of the people.
“This Gutu-Buhera road has become unsafe for motorists as livestock suddenly emerge from the thick bushes and into the road,” Jebheni lamented. “The road section between Vutsinda Business Centre and Machinya Village near Dewure Bridge had become a black spot, with many accidents occurring there.”
Wilfred Nyikadzino, popularly known as Fola, accused the Ministry of Transport of neglecting the roads and failing to maintain them. “Gutu Central Constituency must see from this activity that with President Chamisa, the country is in safe hands. We love work, we love our country, we love our people. We are not like ZANU-PF youth who are there for money, violence, and beating and killing innocent citizens,” he said.
Enita Mukombe Mazo, a local resident, expressed her concerns about the growing bushes damaging the road. “Government invested a lot of taxpayers’ money (our money) into tarring this road. Now they are neglecting it, and soon it will have cracks caused by trees growing by the roadside,” she said.
Honorable Takaona’s commitment to Gutu Central goes beyond the road maintenance. He has been sponsoring netball and football teams to empower and entertain the youth, providing them with much-needed recreational activities and deterring them from engaging in harmful behaviors.
“We now have entertainment in Gutu Central because of the generosity of our Honorable Takaona. We are no longer using drugs,” said Tarisayi Chigerwe, a youth currently participating in the sports games sponsored by Takaona.
Furthermore, Takaona has mobilized resources and worked with Gutu Central citizens to rehabilitate bridges that were affected by rains and old age, which had become a source of danger for many residents. He has also supported local people by helping them start income-generating programs, such as chicken-rearing projects, and has provided assistance during funerals, including buying coffins and food.
Takaona’s unwavering dedication to empowering the marginalized citizens of Gutu Central, even after narrowly losing the 2023 parliamentary election, has earned him the admiration and respect of the community. His efforts exemplify the opposition’s commitment to grassroots development and the betterment of the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.
