By Dumisani Nsingo
BULAWAYO – Makokoba MP Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube has said his persistency in contesting for the constituency which he eventually won recently, was solely to improve the livelihoods of the people unlike most politicians whose quest was to enrich themselves.
Addressing residents at the formation of the Makokoba Constituency Development Association at Stanley Hall in Bulawayo yesterday, Rtd Col Dube said he did not become an MP in order to get allowances or fancy cars, as he had plenty of his own luxury vehicles.
“We are gathered here to seek ways of developing Makokoba. Since 1900 there hasn’t been any meaningful development in this area save for the enactment of electricity and since then people are still living in squalor.
“For me, becoming an MP wasn’t a case of getting free luxurious vehicles. I have plenty of those. I am also gainfully employed though of course I will be retiring soon but I am surely not poverty stricken but I don’t want to have my people living a messy life.
“Sometimes we would engage in a feud with my wife over my decision of pursuing to be an MP for Makokoba as she said what would I gain from receiving the allowances I will be getting but I would say to her I want people in my constituency to live a better life and have a brighter tomorrow,” Rtd Col Dube said.
Rtd Col Dube is the CEO of the Zimbabwe Defence Industries. He is also Highlanders Football Club’s long-standing sponsor. He recently added $25 000 from his own funds for the purchase of the club’s bus in South Africa.
He said it was the “inhumane conditions”, which the people in the constituency were subjected to that made him consider standing as a Member of the National Assembly so as to forward the electorate’s grievances for empowerment and development to Government.
He said there was a need for the constituency’s leadership to work together on issues to do with development regardless of political affiliation so as to improve the livelihoods of the residents.
“We need to live together in harmony regardless of political differences. We are all aiming at one thing, which is to improve the livelihoods of our people from this constituency,” Rtd Col Dube said.
He said the first project he would initiate in the constituency was the rehabilitation of the road network in Makokoba, Mzilikazi and Nguboyenja suburbs as well as youth sports and recreational centres.
Speaking at the same occasion, Ward Seven Councillor James Sithole said the Bulawayo City Council was redeveloping Makokoba, a situation which would see the destruction of the deplorable infrastructure to pave way for the construction of modern residential flats.
“What we have done as a council is to come up with a Makokoba Redevelopment Plan that will see us demolish infrastructure close to the City. We have termed the first phase the Basch Street Corridor, this will see us erecting modern flats in the area close to Basch Street Terminus which you are all aware will be turned into a state-of-the-art complex and it is prudent that its surroundings are given a facelift,” Clr Sithole said. Sunday News
