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THE grand entrance of young businessman James Pande, into the Masvingo Urban constituency Zanu PF primary elections race, has rejuvenated the ruling party with fierce campaigning that has caught the eye of residents forcing his rival Wellington Mahwende to up his game.
Pande has pushed Mahwende, who is the deputy mayor of Masvingo, into the corner with many residents interviewed by Zim Community News expressing their disgruntlement with councils’ poor service delivery provision.
The town is experiencing a severe water rationing programme despite the fact that Lake Mutirikwi spilled recently.
But it is Pande’s colourful campaign punctuated with a convoy of cars that has gripped residents in Masvingo.
During an interview, an analyst who preferred to be called “Comrade Tony” said that he had advised Mahwende not to take up the mayoral post if he harboured any ambitions to become a legislator.
“I was once part of Mahwende’s campaign team and after he won I advised him not to be a deputy mayor because that was going to cost him dearly if he wanted to be an MP.”
Two elderly women from Mucheke who are loyal Zanu PF supporters said they were disappointed with Mahwende’s lack of support after they has gone to fetch water at the civic centre.
“We were arrested after we went to fetch water at the Civic Centre with nine other residents having gone for three weeks without water in Masvingo.”
“To think that he did not stand for our cause and we had to be rescued by human rights lawyers is painful,” said one of them, Viola Samu.
Another resident told this publication that Pande was their son who has not forgotten his people.
“He has assisted our hospital with blankets and funded many community projects, and provided solar lights in our schools, the people of Masvingo are aware of that and are now clever on who to choose to represent them.“
Efforts to get a comment from Mahwende were fruitless.
