Following reports of a spike in cases of political violence
in Hurungwe West constituency involving suspected Zanu PF activists, NewsDay
(ND)’s Nunurai Jena at the weekend caught up with Zanu PF parliamentary
candidate for the area, Mary Thandiwe Mliswa (MTM) to clear the air on her
party’s alleged involvement in the skirmishes.
ND: What’s your comment on reports that your supporters
were involved in the alleged abduction of MDC-T branch chairperson Frank
Hwirayi Chauya of Gotea village?
MTM: We as Zanu PF we don’t know where this is coming from.
Chingurunguru area is the most peaceful area in the
constituency, but from what we are hearing from the village head Aron Goteka,
it was a domestic issue where Chauya tried to make sexual advances to a married
woman and he was beaten up, so he falsely came up with this political violence
issue. Chauya was even summoned by headman Goteka on Saturday and apologized to
the family he had offended.
ND: Has there been cases of violence during this current
political campaign?
MTM: Not really save for few a cases where our campaign
posters have been pulled down by MDC-T members and for the record we reported
the cases at
Magunje Police Station and one of the culprits will appear
in court on Monday (yesterday).
ND: What are your chances of winning in Hurungwe West?
MTM: My chances of winning are very high. I’m on the ground
working with the people, I have even started doing work in Hurungwe West. Some
projects are going on there and we are rehabilitating the boreholes. The
projects that were left unfinished by my brother Temba, we picked them up and
we are moving forward because they were fantastic projects, so we have to carry
on the good work.
ND: Some say that you are riding on your brother’s
popularity in Hurungwe?
MTM: How can I ride on the popularity of Temba Mliswa when
I’m Mary Mliswa. Temba is in Norton, I’m in Hurungwe West – two totally
different constituencies. I have worked so hard in Hurungwe, the people know me
and they know what I’m capable of and I’m on the ground, I love the people, I
work with them.
Temba’s relationship with the people of Hurungwe is
different from my relationship with them. My relationship is of a mother who is
caring and who encompasses everyone from the main board, the youth and to the
women. So I cannot ride on anyone’s crest I have to create my own relationships
with the people.
ND: How do you politically compare yourself with Temba??
MTM: Being of the Shumba totem yes, the lioness is more
vicious and the lioness is more protective of the pride and I’m more protective
of Hurungwe West. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen in Hurungwe West when
I’m there, I will take all the blows and I will protect the people of Hurungwe.
ND: Initially the Zanu PF leadership in the province was
not comfortable with your candidature, what is the position now?
MTM: We are all one family in Zanu PF, we have all
reconciled and we are working together and we are doing programmes together
which is a good thing.
If there is anyone out there who is not happy, I’m saying
to them come and be part of the family, and let us be together.
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