ZANU PF last week took its campaign to Norton, to drum up support for its
presidential, parliamentary and local authority candidates.
Headlining the Norton campaign rally on Wednesday at Ngoni Stadium were the
party’s secretary for Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, who was standing in for the party’s
national chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is also the Minister of Defence
and War Veterans, the Zanu PF Mashonaland chairperson, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka,
Webster Shamu, the outgoing MP for Chegutu East and Zanu PF Politburo member
and the party’s secretary for health, Douglas Mombeshora.
In introducing the guest of honour, Shamu described Chinamasa as “a patriotic
cadre who has supported the party and remained loyal to the party for years”.
Chinamasa then passed on Muchinguri's apology message to the party supporters
and highlighted that he has been appraised of Norton Constituency problems, which
range from Kingsdale residential area, where people are being evicted.
Chinamasa made an undertaking to escalate the Kingsdale issue to the highest
authority in the land, promising that President Mnangagwa would ensure the plight of
the residents is attended to and resolved once and for all.
Chinamasa added that the Government plans to drill 12 boreholes in Norton to
alleviate water woes in Norton.
But he said that the long term solution was the Government’s plan to set up a piped
water scheme and for Norton to have its own water works since the residents are not
benefitting from the Morton Jaffrey Waterworks, initially established to serve Harare.
Rallying the residents to vote for President Mnangagwa so that their issues would be
resolved speedily, Chinamasa said that issues of schools and a hospital for Norton,
which were highlighted, would be attended to.
During the 2018 general elections, Norton constituency was won by an independent
candidate, Temba Mliswa.
At the meeting on Wednesday, Chinamasa advised party members not to associate
themselves with Independent and opposition candidates as he said some of the
Independent candidates have been Zanu PF supporters and will only cause
confusion among voters.
As he spoke, the outgoing independent Member of Parliament for the constituency,
Temba Mliswa, showed up all dressed up in Zanu PF regalia, much to the
amusement of the people attending the rally.
Chinamasa took the opportunity to thank party supporters for their presence at
Magunje rally in Hurungwe last weekend. He urged party supporters to vote for

Constance Shamu, adding that the party already has 92 council seats that have
been uncontested this year.
He advised the residents to shun opposition parties as they have offered nothing but
poor service delivery to residents in urban areas.
Crucially, Chinamasa urged party members to refrain from violence and vote
peacefully and in the spirit of unity.
He congratulated Mashonaland West for being ranked the best in farming and for
being a major producer of wheat and maize, as well as minerals.
According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) there are six million
registered voters on the voters’ roll, consequently, he advised party members that
the party’s slogan should change the target of votes it is aiming to garner from five
million votes to six million votes during the August 23, 2023 harmonised elections.
His last message to the party supporters was: “Vote for President ED Mnangagwa,
Constance Shamu, Zanu PF senators and councillors.”
Chinamasa was officially introduced to the incoming candidates for Chegutu district.
Mary Mliswa-Chikoka stated that the Mashonaland West Province has promised that
it will defend the history and integrity of its nation by voting for President Mnangagwa
and Zanu PF, due to his hard work that has transformed Zimbabwe in different
sectors of the economy. – ZIS.