BETTY Kaseke of Zanu PF, John Matambo of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), Dadirai Fatima Madamombe of the MDC-Alliance and Nesbert Mapfumo of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party are battling it out for the Kuwadzana parliamentary seat in by-elections slated for 26 March this year.
MARY MUNDEYA
The Harare seat fell vacant following the death of MDC-Alliance legislator, then under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa in 2020. The NewsHawks this week reached out to the candidates vying for the seat as part of our by-election coverage:
Betty Kaseke
(Zanu PF) Zanu PF’s Betty Nhambu Kaseke (38) became a member of Parliament for the same constituen[1]cy through a by-election in 2015.
However, she lost the seat in the 2018 general elections but is hoping to reclaim it. Kaseke is known in the beauty industry for her love for modelling and pageantry. When she was the Kuwadzana legislator, she introduced the Miss Kuwadzana competition.
She holds an honorary doctorate in business leadership, honorary doctorate in human letters from DHL International Institute of Philanthropy (IIP) and an honorary masters of business leadership and entrepreneurship degree from International Women’s University (IWU).
She is founder of the Kuwadzana Development Association, an organisation responsible for all the projects Betty has done in the constituency. If elected, she hopes to provide housing for home seekers through the Kuwadzana Housing Association Trust and initiate income-generating projects for women and young people.
“I formed the Kuwadzana Housing Association Trust so that I provide affordable housing to home seekers. We located pieces of land through council which we are hoping will go a long way in solving the accommodation crisis we are currently having in the constituency,” Kaseke said.
Johnson Matambo (CCC)
The 39-year-old Matambo is contesting for the first time. He attended his primary schooling at Kuwadzana 6 and moved to Gorge Stark and Dzivaresekwa High School for his secondary school studies.
His political journey began in 2001 when he joined the then Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ascended to become the party’s secretary for security for Kuwadzana.
During the Government of National Unity (GNU), he served as one of the drivers for the then Information Communication Technology minister Nelson Chamisa. Prior to Chamisa rebranding and abandoning the MDC-Alliance name and symbols, Matambo was the Harare provincial youth department’s secretary for welfare.
Matambo said if voted into office, he will en[1]sure that there is efficient service delivery in Kuwadzana and that corruption in the constituency is dealt with.
“In the usual cooperation of citizens of our great constituency, I shall collaborate with local authorities, opinion leaders, progressive thinking individuals, corporates, as well as like-minded individuals outside and inside the constituency to expeditiously address the following; improved water supply, timeous refuse collection, overhauls of sewage main lines, consistent power supply and swift attendance to localised faults as well as road rehabilitation,” he said.
“Ending of corruption in public offices in the constituency such as the district office of the Reg[1]istrar of Births and Deaths, clinics and schools will also be effected,” said Matambo.
Dadirai Madamombe (MDC-Alliance)
Born on the 9 March 1960, the MDC-Alli[1]ance’s Dadirai Fatima Madamombe grew up in Seke rural village and later moved to Chivhu.
She is a certified social worker who volunteers with the ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. Madamombe is passionate about human development and the upliftment of women, young people and vulnerable groups. Her first attempt at becoming a member of Parliament failed in 2013 during her party’s primary elections when she was defeated by Lucia Matibenga.
She failed again in 2018. If elected office, Madamombe hopes to unite the people of Kuwadzana.
“I want the people of Kuwadzana to unite as one family, loving, supporting and caring for each other. It’s better to empower people inclusively, mentally, socially and physically so that they can stand up for themselves and stand for what they believe in. Only then can an area be developed,” she says.
“There is nothing for Kuwadzana, without the Kuwadzana people. It’s important that we identi[1]fy the need in our community and work together to implement whatever solution we would have agreed on,’’ she said.
Nesbert Mapfumo (UDA)
The Daniel Shumba-led United Democratic Alliance party candidate Nesbert Mapfumo said he is after making a difference for the good of the country. Mapfumo attended primary and secondary schooling at Shingirirai and George Stark respectively.
He proceeded to acquire a marketing diploma from Denmark College, as well as a higher diploma in pastoral studies with the Harare Pas[1]tors’ Institute. He is an appointed Global Missions Team World Evangelisation missionary in Zimbabwe.
If elected to office, Mapfumo seeks to combat corruption and create a society in which fairness and meritocracy are at the helm of everything.
“Corruption is Zimbabwe’s number one enemy and I seek to combat it at every level. I in[1]tend to create a society where issues of merit, hard work, values and fairness are at the helm of my development agenda,” he said.
“I’m promising the people of Kuwadzana happiness, peace and sanctity of human life, transparency and accountable leadership, equal and fair access to resources, youth empowerment and poverty reduction.”
