The newly elected Member of Parliament for Nkulumane, Freedom Murechu, has sought to reassure residents that ongoing community projects will not be disrupted following the death of his predecessor, saying he will retain and work with existing local development structures.
Addressing stakeholders at a meeting on Saturday, Murechu said his leadership would focus on service, continuity and community participation rather than dismantling structures established under the late MP Desire Moyo.
The meeting was attended by Ward 22 Councillor Mmeli Moyo and Ward 23 Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, as well as members of the Nkulumane Development Committee and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Committee.
The session began with committee representatives presenting reports on how CDF resources had been used before Moyo’s death. Some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the committees’ performance and called for their dismissal.
However, Murechu rejected suggestions of a complete overhaul.
“When we were campaigning, we presented a manifesto to the people of Nkulumane. Those are the promises and concerns you voted for, and we remain guided by them,” he said. “You will notice that there was already a development committee in place. I am not here to destroy what has been built.”
Drawing an analogy with construction, he said leadership transitions should not result in the undoing of previous work. “In some instances, a new minister comes in and destroys what the previous one had done. At the end of the day, the house remains at foundation level. A clever builder only adjusts where necessary and continues to complete the house,” he said.
Murechu said the existing development committee would remain in place but would be broadened to reflect the constituency’s diversity. Residents had raised concerns that certain groups, including people with disabilities and churches, were not adequately represented.
“Going forward, we will add a few people so that the committee becomes more diverse,” he said. “Vendors have issues they want addressed, such as vending stalls. We need someone who can tell us what vendors are facing. Youths must be represented by youths, women by women. There is a motto that says, ‘Nothing for us without us.’”
He said current committee members would only step down if they chose to do so. “I am here to build, but I will build with people who also want to build. If someone feels they cannot continue, they will say so themselves,” he added.
Murechu said the mandate given to him by voters required unity in addressing long-standing challenges such as water shortages, poor roads, inadequate street lighting and wider service delivery problems affecting not only Nkulumane but Bulawayo as a whole.
He also highlighted social concerns including drug and substance abuse, school fees challenges, crime and funeral costs, which he linked to unemployment and youth idleness. He urged residents to adopt a community-led development approach.
“Contemporary development is about participation,” he said. “The community must spearhead programmes that address its own challenges. Do not expect that I alone will resolve these issues. We will address them collectively.”
While acknowledging that many service delivery issues fall outside the formal role of an MP, which primarily involves representing constituents in Parliament and crafting laws, Murechu said he would not distance himself from local challenges.
“As an MP, I represent you in Parliament, including on matters such as Amendment Bill 3. But because I am the MP for this constituency, these challenges also affect me. I must be part of the solution,” he said.
He called on residents not to wait for either the MP or councillors to act where community-driven solutions were possible. Referring to previous road grading efforts, he said future initiatives would be better coordinated with councillors.
On welfare issues, Murechu encouraged locally driven support mechanisms rather than sole reliance on government programmes such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
“Imagine if the business community adopted a child who cannot afford school fees. We would not rely entirely on BEAM. We must come up with solutions tailored to our problems,” he said.
Addressing concerns about limited funding, he described a proposed ZWL50,000 allocation for development as “just a drop in the ocean” and urged residents to mobilise local resources.
He also pledged to harmonise projects initiated before his election, including borehole drilling programmes, and promised to complete outstanding commitments.
“We will combine the work of the late MP with what we have started and merge our efforts to address the challenges facing our community,” he said. “We are going to drill the remaining boreholes. If I promise something, I fulfil it. I am a man of my word.”
Murechu concluded by appealing for unity and cooperation, saying sustainable development in Nkulumane would depend on collective effort rather than individual leadership.
Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account. Help keep the truth alive. Donate today