The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
ASPIRING Member of Parliament for Magwegwe constituency Mr Fortune Mlalazi says he will focus on improving education in the area as a way of empowering local people, if elected into office.
Mr Mlalazi who is standing on a People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) ticket led by former Vice-President Dr Joice Mujuru said education was vital as it shapes the future of the youths.
“I want to focus on education as a starting point because education is the biggest form of empowerment that the youths of today need as no one can take it away from them. For that to be possible I will create the avenues for them to reach their goal which is equipping the local library in Magwegwe,” he said.
The library, he said, will offer youths a platform to study within the community and have better grades as some pupils do not have access to libraries in the Central Business District.
He said: “We want to equip it to meet modern standards. We want to computerise it so that people can use the computer laboratory to research. We will have Wi-Fi installed and ensure we have modern books that students can make use of.”
Mr Mlalazi said they have started engagements with Internet service providers for the project. He also said he would set up a night school where extra lessons would be done for pupils in Government and council schools in Magwegwe. Mr Mlalazi said he would also equip youth centres in the area.
“Artistes from the community and youths who want leisure and various services for youth empowerment can come and meet there as it is a safe environment. Parents will be glad to know that their children are at a secure place where they learn various things away from street corners where a lot of social ills are taking place,” he said.
In terms of funding for the projects, he said he has started engagements with foreign and locally-based stakeholders.
“We have a number of people that come from Magwegwe that are scattered all over the world. Magwegwe is actually the leading suburb that has human resources that are employed in universities all over and in the corporate sector. We have already started engaging them to come and invest in the library project and they are keen to support us,” he said.
