FORMER Chegutu West Member of Parliament (MP), Takalani Prince Matibe, who is contesting as an independent, has pledged to end perennial water woes in the town and surrounding areas by pushing for completion of stalled Paterson Dam project.
If complete, the facility will ameliorate the plight of Chegutu residents and villagers in adjacent communal areas facing debilitating water problems.
Matibe lost the right to represent Citizens’Coalition for Change (CCC) following participation in the contentious candidate selection process, forcing him to go solo.
Zanu PF is fielding Farai Last Chigavazira while 2018 losing candidate Gift Konjana filed nomination papers as an independent to replace incumbent Zanu PF legislator, Dexter Nduna.
High on his list of promises to the electorate, Matibe put provision of clean and reliable potable water to consumers.
“When voted into office l intend to push for revival of the Paterson Dam project which failed to kick off in 2004 due to various reasons.
“This project will go a long way in alleviating perennial water challenges we are currently facing as a constituency and will also benefit the surrounding farming communities with irrigation,” said Matibe.
“Chegutu West constituency has a very bad road network, which requires a permanent solution. We need to revive recreational facilities that are idle in our area.
Legislating acquisition of State land inorder to provide space for housing projects is also among issues that Matibe says he will prioritise.
“I will speak forcefully for the acquisition of State land around our town so residents can get residential stands,” he said.
Boasting of good soils for agriculture and its value chain, Chegutu needs to attract more investors and create jobs for hordes of unemployed youths, he added.
The aspiring House of Assembly returnee also promised to lobby for infrastructural development, particularly roads, schools and clinics.
“I am not new to this, during my tenure as MP 2008-13 using Constituency Development Funds (CDF) I managed to construct the farmers market now known as kuGomba, in Ward 28 which is part of Chegutu West constituency.
“I constructed a classroom block at St Francis Primary School and provided furniture. Given another chance I am prepared to continue from where I left.”
The former parliamentarian lamented drug and substance abuse is now a pandemic that requires collective effort to combat and at constituency level, Chegutu West needs to play its part to tackle it.
Matibe has an illustrious history in opposition trenches having joined MDC in 1999 as a youth, before rising to become district youth treasurer leading to his election as MP in 2008, later becoming a provincial member.
In 2014 following a split in the MDC, Matibe briefly joined PDP led by Tendai Biti before returning to MDC in 2016.
Matibe was appointed district vice chairman a position he held until the dissolution of structures at the formation of CCC.
