The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Senior Reporter
THE new political dispensation, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa brought with it many tangible positive developments.
Among the many positives is the opening up of political space for young people. Cde Admire Masikati, is one of the many youths that have benefited from seismic shift in Zanu-PF’s politics.
The previous administration led by former President Robert Mugabe appeared to be largely gerontocratic, shutting out a number of young people from politics.
Cde Masikati (26), a member of the Zanu-PF Bulawayo province Youth League executive, is one of the many prospective local authority councillors in Bulawayo.
Having been on the fringes of local politics for much of life, Cde Masikati’s political career is now manifesting in earnest as he goes into his first national election contest.
He is vying for the Mpopoma-Pelandaba Ward 9 council seat and carries with him a bag full of promises for Mpopoma,
Matshobana and Kelvin North 2 residents, if elected.
Having grown up in Matshobana, Cde Masikati says his sentimental attachment to the area and intrinsic appreciation of the Ward 9’s challenges makes him the right person to represent the people in council.
A holder of a Bachelor of Arts in History and International Affairs from the Midlands State University, Cde Masikati hopes to bring intellect in council that has been dominated by MDC councillors.
“A lot of things have gone wrong with the way our local authorities and I feel it is now time for young people to step up and right the wrongs,” he declared.
Cde Masikati added, “For example in my area most social amenities are now derelict, with little care from council.
Resuscitating these facilities such as community halls, sports fields is one of the ways that we get youths off the streets. The roads are a mess, replete with potholes. The sewer system is not functioning well and raw sewage flows in all directions. All those problems need to be attended to, something the current council has failed to do”.
Cde Masikati said if elected into council, his approach to business would be inclusive and integrative, tapping ideas from all residents regardless of political persuasions.
“Once voted into office, I will be everyone’s councillor. I will work with everyone in the community, regardless of political affiliation, to solve the prevailing challenges.
“People know their challenges better and often they are better placed to proffer solutions,” he said.
Cde Masikati said council needed to change its approach to business and move towards Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in order to improve service delivery.
“It is a known fact that the council is constrained in terms of resources, which is affecting service delivery. However, one way that challenge can be overcome is having PPPs. When I get into council, I would want to influence discussions in that sort of direction,” he said.
Cde Masikati’s love for politics started when he was 12 years old in 2003 when he was part of the Ingwazi Young Pioneers Association where they were taught about the country’s history and principles of ubuntu.
It was at that time, Cde Masikati said, that the ideology of socialism set in him, under the tutelage of one Cde Willard Manyengavana.
He was to get into politics as an Ordinary Level pupil at Gloag High School in 2008 when he was elected into the Zanu-PF Matshobane District Youth League executive as a committee member.
Two years later, Cde Masikati became the party’s district Youth League commissar a position he held until 2017 when in November he was co-opted into the provincial Youth League executive as deputy secretary for the commissariat.
“As a young boy I was following Zimbabwe’s domestic policies which were largely socialist. I decided to be a Zanu-PF member because of the party’s ideologies that I agree with a lot,” he said.
Born in a family of politicians, his uncle the late national hero Cde Edison Sithole and father Cde James Masikati a war veteran, Cde Masikati is trudging the same path elders walked before.
“I come from a family of politicians and that has been my greatest influence to join politics. I was however, nurtured by the likes of Themba Ncube former Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial chairperson and Cde Cephas Ncube (Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Bulawayo Province chairperson)” he said.
Cde Masikati expressed confidence of winning the council elections adding that he has received encouraging feedback from the electorate in his area.
He paid tribute to his wife Ms Cinderella Ncube whom he said has been helping her with campaigns.
Cde Ncube added that his ambition was to grow in politics and one day gun for the Mpopoma-Pelandaba House of Assembly seat which is held by Cde Joseph Tshuma.
@irielyan
