Meet your potential leaders’ dialogue series

The meet your potential leaders’ dialogue series play an important role in political engagement and communication in local communities. It is a tool that assists in getting a clear understanding of the patterns of daily political discussion, uncovering the main electoral issue and interest of the community stakeholders. It proves that active citizenship and civic engagement have become a political priority for local people in various communities. Platform for Youth development Trust in collaboration with NANGO held a dialogue meeting dubbed "Meet your potential leaders" with the electorate at New Checheche Conference centre in Chipinge South Constituency on 23 July 2018. 

The event lived up to the expectations with three candidates turning up for the meeting where more than 100 people braved the chilly weather to interface with their potential leaders. This public dialogue meeting accorded citizens and voters an opportunity to discuss with the candidates, issues affecting sustainable development and service delivery. The candidates who accorded their time to the electorate were Mr Kudakwashe F Chiororo (independent), Mr Takawira Mupakati (NCA) and Mr Clifford Hlatswayo (MDC Alliance) whereas Zanu PF candidate and the incumbent Member of Parliament Mr Enock Porusingazi who was invited to the same event failed to attend citing a tight campaign schedule. The present candidates spent their time discussing the policy gap which they pledged to address when elected into office. The dialogue series highlighted the main motifs of political conversation of the contesting parties and independents, discovering that Chipinge South Constituency suffered from confrontational-style partisan politics from previous elections. PYD believes that what came out of this discussion represents a pretty good synthesis of the views of the dialogue stakeholders.

The NCA party candidate, Takwaira Mupakati stated that the socio – economic formations in the community are not well defined hence the impunity of large scale investments of the form and nature of Greenfuel. He said that the problems bedevilling Chipinge South as a rural constituency is largely based on the way most political representatives have been operating. Mupakati claimed that the previous and current representatives have been operating at the level of political consciousness that only serve to arouse the anxiety of the people but offer little reprieve. He, however, said that NCA is coming in from the level intended to operate more concretely through a system of tangible results like addressing the long standing dispute with Greenfuel. Due to the nature of the country’s laws, large scale investments like Greenfuel thrive on dividing public opinion on what really entails social justice and investment in total disregard to the Communal Lands Act (Chapter 20:04). He also articulated a legal and policy framework that he believes can promote social cohesion and harmony within the community through creating sustainable development initiatives. In his parting note, Mupakati alluded to the fact that the bedrock of our crisis is the current constitution, which he strongly believes that it needs to be rewritten. The current constitution gives so much power to a president. This scenario creates room for political coercion against people and does not guarantee public influence over political decision makers.

Next to take to the podium was Clifford Hlatswayo of the MDC Alliance, and he outlined his action plan within the context of the party’s SMART manifesto. SMART is an acronym for ‘Sustainable and Modern Agenda for Real Transformation”. He acknowledged the fact that due to years of dereliction of duty by the authorities, the constituency was deprived of easy access to basic services. Hlatswayo is of the opinion that basic services enhance the quality of life of the people and increase their social and economic opportunities. He promised the electorate that he is geared up to implement the SMART manifesto in the most effective manner and to ensure maximum benefit to the constituency.

As an independent candidate, Kudakwashe Chiororo bemoaned the level of corruption that has greatly affected service delivery to the constituency. He promised to working with all residents and progressive groups in the constituency to fight corruption and poor service delivery. The point of departure for him is to prioritise the delivery of services at basic levels. Chiororo outlined his policy framework within which to leverage and marshal resources towards meeting the constituency’s development needs. This framework actively promotes an ethos of participation by all stakeholders through the process of determining and implementing service delivery options. 

The message from the floor was very clear that they want politics to be about service delivery as opposed to personal enrichment. The people put to the task the candidates and stated that they have suffered for years due to the lack of democratic accountability that has allowed arrogance and impunity to take root. It was again, resented to the candidates that the electorate want an MP who is truly answerable to them and who represents their views and interests. 

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