MP Mangondo blocking President’s call to bolster development at grassroots level

Opinion by Forward Nyanyiwa in DUBLIN, Ireland

Since assuming the Presidency on 24 November 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa had a clear vision for the Second Republic – “Engagement and Re-engagement”.

This he clearly stated was the cornerstone to achieving Vision 2030, to fundamentally transform Zimbabwe to an Upper Middle Income Economy.

The 2030 Agenda also puts the principles of equality and non-discrimination at its heart, with a commitment to “leave no one behind” and “reach those furthest behind first”, special attention to marginalised groups, and two dedicated goals on combating discrimination and inequalities.

On all his international tours around the globe, the President has managed to squeeze within his tight schedule to meet Zimbabweans living in diaspora and his message has been the same – “come back home and help the country move forward”.

I was fortunate enough to meet President in November 2021 when he was in Glasgow, Scotland for the UN Climate Summit and l took his wise counsel hook, line and sinker.

As a patriotic Zimbabwean, l started to save the little savings to help the community of Mukarakate where l come from. Football is one major national sport that brings communities together, as such, l helped form a team and started to sponsor football activities in the area as a way of returning to my roots.

Recently on 25 August 2024, l held a successful village football tournament to help identify and expose talent from the outlying community. Former Zimbabwe national football legends Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda and Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi graced the event to give inspiration to the rural footballers and it was a changing moment for everyone in Mukarakate village.

However, the local Member of Parliament Mr Noah Mangondo saw it otherwise. He had over the build up to the event tried to block it, sending even people to Mrewa police to scuttle the event.

The MP who is also running a soccer league in the area named “Bhora Mberi” in which most of the teams that took part in the tournament are affiliated to, shamelessly decided to dismiss all the teams that played that day from his league.

Yes, the teams were punished for playing football. His argument being everything should come through him.

Whilst we are heeding the President’s call, there are elements like Mangondo who are throwing spanners in the President’s vision and it is tragic.

Mukarakate remains furthest from the capital and it is one of those communities that the President wishes to take aboard in Vision 2030.

The affected teams which were banned by Mangondo are no longer playing football and my foundation had to form another league to accommodate them.

Forward Nyanyiwa writes in his own capacity.