Zanu PF second secretary Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday urged voters in urban areas to return both Parliamentary and local government seats to the ruling party as the opposition has failed to represent the people and to deliver services.

Speaking during a star rally for Mkoba North and South constituencies at Mkoba Stadium, VP Chiwenga said the opposition has run down urban areas throughout the country during the past 23 years that it has controlled them. He urged urban voters to use the upcoming August 23 harmonised elections to kick out the sitting Movement for Democratic Change and Citizens Coalition for Change legislators and councilors.

“They have brought about poverty and suffering for urbanites. It has been 23 years in the wilderness and we should now unite and build our country. We are only left with a few days to go and vote for a party that brings development,” he said.

The Second Republic, he said, brought a number of key achievements like food sufficiency, electricity, roads and hospitals among others. “We have come again as required by the Constitution so that you give us another mandate. On the August 23, we should go and vote for the party that will alleviate suffering here in Gweru and other urban centres.

“For the past 23 years, nothing has been achieved. Sewer reticulation has collapsed, water provision is not there and roads are not trafficable yet you are paying rates. Where is the money that you are paying rates going?” he asked.

“We should agree that these councilors and their party have failed, therefore we should kick them out on August 23.” Opposition councilors in most urban centres, many of who are not employed elsewhere, have a record of using their tenure to amass wealth through grabbing land and selling it to desperate home seekers.

New Ziana