The ManicaPost
Nyore Madzianike Senior Reporter
IT was pomp and fanfare on Saturday in Ruwangwe as thousands of people from across the breadth of Nyanga North constituency thronged Tsengerai Primary School grounds for the joint celebrations of Cde Chido Sanyatwe’s victory in the 2018 harmonised elections and her husband, Major General Anselem Sanyatwe’s promotion in the army.
Major General Sanyatwe was elevated from the rank of Brigadier General and was reassigned to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It was a day to remember as the event was the first of its kind in the constituency, drawing attention of the country’s top army officials, Government officials, business people and politicians with some coming from as far as Harare.
At around mid-morning, people from the constituency’s 13 Wards had already gathered at the venue to witness the historic event which lasted until Sunday morning.
Major General Sanyatwe was the first take to the stage after an army chaplain gave an opening prayer. He thanked the multitudes of people for gracing the event and voting for his wife during the 2018 elections.
The army Major General also thanked President Mnangagwa and his bosses in the army for recognising his efforts through his promotion, promising to “keep working hard for the betterment of the nation”.
“I would like to thank you all for coming here today. Without your encouragement and support I would not have been standing here today,” he said.
Major Gen Sanyatwe also gave special thanks to Zanu-PF Belvedere-Warren Park Ward 5, 2018 harmonised elections representative Cde Abdurrahman Sapa, who had travelled all the way from Harare, to attend the function.
Cde Chido Sanyatwe thanked people of Nyanga North and Zanu-PF supporters in particular for electing her during last year’s elections.
She also thanked Chief Katerere and Chief Saunyama promising to continue working with them. Cde Sanyatwe told the multitudes of people that her focus was to work towards infrastructural development and start sustainable projects in her constituency.
“My goal is to encourage human and infrastructural development as well as ensure food security among the people of Nyanga North. As you can see, the effects of El-Nino were felt in Nyanga North calling for urgent attention to ensure that people get food aid,” she said.
Cde Sanyatwe appealed for to Government to avail funds through the District Development Fund under (DDF) under its National Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development programme to start irrigation schemes along Gairezi and Nyangombe rivers.
“We are also appealing for Government to drill boreholes around Nyanga North,” she said.
Cde Sanyatwe also appealed to Government to improve telecommunication networks in Nyanga North.
She said there was urgent need to set up telecommunication network base stations as Information Communication Technology (ICT) was the major driver for development in the modern world.
“We are again appealing to Government, development partners and the business community to assist in the reconstruction of the strategically Rwenya bridge which was swept away by a cyclone almost 10 years ago. We also look forward to the rehabilitation of Gotekote bridge,” she said.
On health, Cde Sanyatwe called for the creation of synergies with other players for the refurbishment of Sanhani and Mbiriyadi clinics and completion of Munemo clinic. She said during her five-year tenure as MP, she wanted all people to have access to primary health care.
“In education, we want all the children to have access to quality education. It is my wish that all schools would be fully furnished. Education is important not only for human development but for community development as well,” she said.
Cde Sanyatwe said she has lined up a number of projects for youths and women development.
“We will be moving around all the wards encouraging woman to undertake projects through applying loans at the Women’s Bank. There are also projects that we have lined up for youths especially in mining. There are many gold ore deposits in Nyanga North which should benefit the youths and communities at large,” she said.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, in his speech which was read on his behalf by army commander Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chimonyo, implored people to take a leaf from the Sanyatwe family’s achievements.
Gen Sibanda said Sanyatwe family’s achievements were as a result of determination, honesty, perseverance and hard work.
“It is these basic tenets that have made two to walk tall with their heads high as they become a symbol of and a shining beacon to the Sanyatwe family.
“I therefore urge all of us to emulate the two and try to read from the same chapter of life as we endeavour to get Zimbabwe back on the economic track,” he said.
Lt Gen Chimonyo in his speech urged people to listen, to be tolerant and accept each other’s decision as the nation moves towards economic transformation.
“What needs to be done is listening to each other. We can uplift our country, province or district. Let us be one, so that we develop the country.
“No one will come and develop it for us. It all comes from our sweat, minds and hard work from our hands. Hard works will uplift us,” he said.
The event was spiced up by performances from musicians — Charles and Olivia Charamba, Alick Macheso, Nicholas Zacharia and Leonard Zhakata. Zanu PF members, including provincial vice chairperson Dorothy Mabika, Chido Madiwa, Happiness Nyakuedzwa and Supa Mandiwanzira also attended the function.
