By Kenneth Nyangani | The Standard |
The government has been accused of favouritism after spearheading the tarring of a road leading to the main shrine of the Johanne Marange apostolic sect in Manicaland.
At least 10km of the road in Mafararikwa has been tarred.
The developments followed the uproar that greeted an alleged Passover meeting by the sect that was allowed to go on despite it being in violation of measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Mutare West MP Teedzayi Muchimwe, a Zanu PF and senior member of the Johane Marange sect, said he was the one who lobbied for the tarring of the road.
“We applied for the rehabilitation of the road with the ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development targeting the Marange-Odzi road, and so far, we have rehabilitated the road from Marange Clinic to St Noah College,” Muchimwe said.
“We are targeting to rehabilitate the road to the Odzi area.
“Yes, there are concerns about roads in diamond areas, we are looking into it and very soon we are going to see some changes.”
Moses Mukwada, Bocha Diamond Community Trust chairman, said the government had shown favouritism by embarking on the road project.
“roads leading to the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company are yet to be tarred despite several companies mining in the area, but government chose the church for votes,” Mukwada said.
“I am surprised that government rushed to tar the road to St Noah College or to the shrine after that they just abandoned the project, this is clear favouritism.
“We have many areas where diamonds are coming from and the roads are in a bad shape and we are worried very much about that and they just chose to rehabilitate the roads leading to the shrine.
“As villagers, we are going to engage the relevant authorities over the matter and we might be forced to demonstrate.”
Zanu PF always courts the apostolic sects during elections because of their huge following in the country.
Meanwhile, Muchimwe dismissed allegations that the sect held its annual Passover meeting in violation of Covid-19 regulations.
He said police stopped some of the members, who had attempted to attend the gathering by mounting roadblocks on streets that lead to the shrine.
“We never had a gathering,” he said.
“I was at home. Police blocked some of our members, who had attempted to attend the gathering by mounting roadblocks on roads leading to the shrine.
“I think social media was behind the lies that said we had some people who gathered in Marange.”
If the community benefits from such a project then those are a couple of KM less on the road maintenance schedule. Better than lining their pockets.
Kkkk kuredza hove mugomo uku
Brightman Chikaka dzatobatwa kkkkk dzichaendepi dzamuplastic bag… Kutodziwedzera fty muplastic imomo dzodyira zvakare #registertovote#
Hapana favour apo.That toad mupostori ayo anga aunganidza mari kuma2000 vachida kuisa tara kubva paMarange kusvika paMafararikwa.A prominent gvt official then came akati kumapostori hamungagadzire tara coz zvinozonyadzisa hurumende.So unzai mari yacho basa riitwe nehurumende.For almost 15yrs they were waiting kuti road iiswe tara
Marufu VekwaJoronga hoo kkkk Mushohwe did put inogumira pamba pake… So meaning vana Mbada meaning Chiadzwa Diamond Fields havana bag…. Ndakunzwai mushe hapana favour… If SA isina kuuya kuChimanaz kwanga kusina fty bag reroad after IDAI hoo pakanaka kudzidza hakuperi.. Only to name bt a few…
Gashirai Learnmore bag remapistori rakarohwa kudhara apo saka apa maybe kuzogadzira coz of pressure.besides mapostori ayo anovhota zvine mutsindo so rimwe ziso rakatarisa 2023
Kkkk true
Kkkkkk and going to Diamonds fields munotsemurwa nehuruva kkkkk kkkk #registertovote # mapositori ivhoti baba kkkk kkkk Zanu leadership inofunga… Mainvestor and tourist must go to kumapositori first tokupai munyengetero then kwese uko hamukomplainy
Thats shona culture they do things by favour.
Vote buying has just begun
They are doin it for votes
Instead of arresting paedophiles in that sect
Simon Mwando vanoda kutorongerwawo svava idzodzo
Vote buying has never been in their favour no matter how much they spend. It’s just a waste of time, notwithstanding the benefit to the Vapostoli
Haaa kana Tazoti fambe tozoti gare maRange anorema zvekuti ukarwadziwa naye unofa ne BP