Melody Chingarande is contesting in the March 22 by-elections to be a Councilor for ward 5 in Mbizo Kwekwe under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.
She is determined to reclaim her seat which she lost due to a recall from Council by Douglas Mwonzora in August 2021. She was recalled four days after having been elected Kwekwe Deputy Mayo. Chingarande was replacing the late deputy mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa who succumbed to cancer in July 2021, leaving Kwekwe with 13 councilors.
Ward Councilors are accountable to their Wards and to Council. They are supposed to live in the areas that they serve in order to ensure that there is genuine understanding of the needs of the ward. They are a representative conduit between the community they represent and the municipal council, reporting back regularly through ward meetings. They are also meant to assist the community in identifying needs and priority areas of development. Councilors are basically the communication link between council and the community.
Chingarande’s tenure was interrupted by Covid 19 such that she could not do public meetings with residents in her ward. She had to refocus and concentrate on whatsapp meetings but with meeting restrictions now more flexible she intends to be more hands on and engage more with ward residents. “I want to work on service delivery, I had fixed most of the tower lights in my ward but now most are no longer working again. I also made sure that garbage dumpsites which were a sour point and health hazard in my ward were cleared,” she said.
There has been an outcry in Kwekwe over water bills that have been reduced by over 250%. This after council had consulted with residents and their proposal to increase rates was rejected. “Council turned around and sent even higher bills that most, including myself cannot afford. I don’t have a problem with us as residents petitioning council on the issue of rates so they can be reduced. We are operating under a harsh economic environment and no one can afford this,” she said.
She has been doing door to door campaigns to garner support for herself for the elections. However, access to resources remains a problem for her. “When carrying out door to door campaigns people will ask for t-shirts and other regalia which I don’t have. It’s a challenge to find money to buy refreshments for my team that help me in do door to door campaigns. It’s harder as an opposition candidate because you are competing against someone who is being funded through state resources,” she said.
The biggest problem is a threat to her safety as a woman opposition candidate as she continues to challenge societal perceptions about women in politics. Added to this is the threats on opposition candidates in a ZANU- PF backyard.
“I continually face humiliation and intimidation. I’m afraid to walk around alone because there is a lot of harassment especially here in Kwekwe.”
“Government should reserve wards where female candidates can compete against themselves. Maybe that can level the playing field for female candidates. Men usually have more resources over women and that makes them have a certain edge. But that does not mean they are better than us in terms of representing people,” she said.
Chingarande holds a certificate in Records Management from Harare Polytechnic, a Diploma in Secondary Education from Mutare Teachers’ College, a Bachelor of Education Honours Degree in Sociology from Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University. She is currently studying towards a Master’s degree with the Women’s University.
She is running against local businessman, Happyday Chirima of ZANU-PF.
I will vote for you coz you are a competent woman. I also believe in the idea that havin more women in higher echelons of power means a larger talent pool and a fuller perspective in governing. This can lead to innovations n solving broader problems. Most surveys are indicating that countries with female leadership seem to be performing well economically. . Take Rwanda for example its the number one fast developing african country for the past decade with 64 percent of seats in Parliament being held by women. Also, countries with women who are head of state such as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Germany and Slovakia have been internationally recognized for the effectiveness of their response to citizens’ votes. As a competent leader you have my vote Melody