ZIMBABWE needs stability in all its spheres for the country to grow to the levels it used to be immediately after independence so that citizens enjoy the benefits of its resources, Bulawayo ward 19 (Mpopoma) councillor Donaldson Mabutho has said.
In a wide-ranging interview with NewsDay recently, Mabutho recounted how development in Zimbabwe has been affected by political challenges affecting the country.
Mabutho, who represents the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in the Bulawayo City Council, has survived four recalls was once appointed deputy mayor, but has soldiered on to represent and develop his ward.
“Political stability in a community or in a country is very important, because if our politics is stable, if there is a general consensus in a community or in a nation, you see the economy falling into shape.
“This is what we actually pray for as leaders, as we lead in our various spheres from local government going up there.
“Yeah, the key thing there is employment, people are crying for jobs, people are affected, people are jobless and they don’t have any source of income.”
He said Zimbabwe’s industry could be resuscitated through investment.
“You see all these residents you see basking in the sunshine there, they will find something to do in the industry like what we used to see in the 1990s,” Mabutho said.
- Councillors push for road rehab
- We are all behind Coltart: Mabutho
- CCC defends Coltart, Mabutho election
- New cllrs sweat over Byo water nightmare
Keep Reading
“So we pray and we hope that at some point our nation will be stable and it will give joy to these residents we lead.
“They are aiming for a good living, but a good living also comes from a country with a stable political environment.”
Mabutho, whose ward covers Mabuthweni, part of Old Square, Total, Vumela, Congo and part of Matshobane, committed his tenure to developing the area.
“I must say that during my term in office, we managed to do quite a number of projects. Those were derailed by recalls, where you get elected and you are recalled.
“I think I’m the only councillor in the City of Bulawayo who has taken oath of office four times in two terms. And that has actually derailed some city development,” he said.
Mabutho, working with a development committee, spent about ZWL$3m to rehabilitate sewer lines in Matshobane after the area had gone for three decades with perennial sewers problems.
“We have done new main roads, bigger pipes because we discovered that the pipes which were there had passed their heyday.
“They were designed for a small population. But now the demand, with the thing of rural to urban migration, the population has ballooned,” he said.
The ward has grown to a population of approximately 28 000 residents.
Among the projects completed in the ward is the Mpopoma Pharmacy, two nutrition gardens for the elderly and people with special needs, and boreholes.
“Also, in our community engagement, when we employ people like sweepers, community sweepers, which are paid by council, we identify 10.
“We normally pick senior citizens. Those people with special needs, we cannot just employ someone who is able for drain clearing, grass cutting, all those things, road patching,” he said.
Mabutho said the they would also want to rehabilitate and revamp the Mpopoma Park train to bring back the memories of yesteryear.
“Where that park, that train used to move around in Mpopoma, which they call Nketha Park. So investors or donors have come. We have met, they've assisted.
“And what is needed is to make sure that things come into shape. And we look forward that in the next three or so months, you will see some activity happening there at Mpopoma Park. Also, we need to rehabilitate our Inyathi Youth Centre.
“Inyathi Youth Centre, as you know, that youth will come in there to learn welding, mechanics, carpentry, some to do arts,” he said.
Mabutho bemoaned the challenge of drug and substance abuse.
“The youth, you know, their future is being destroyed by drugs, you see, because the rate of unemployment is way above 80% in our nation, the economic situation is bad.
“So we need to move these youths from the streets and we make sure that we find them something to do. This is where my passion is now, to make sure that the dream of Inyathi Centre is back to its heyday,” he said.
