Staff Reporter
ZANU PF Mwenezi East legislator, ShiellaChikomo, has pledged continued support for education, youth empowerment, and community development through targeted donations and infrastructural projects.
Her efforts are aimed at reducing poverty, promoting self-reliance, and aligning the constituency with Vision 2030 and the national development agenda.
Speaking in an interview with this publicationrecently, Honourable Chikomo said recent donations to schools and wards were meant to upgrade infrastructure, assist vulnerable learners, and stimulate income-generation activities within communities.
“Education is a vehicle for any journey of transformation. As the nation moves towards Vision 2030, it is imperative that no one and no place is left behind. That is why I saw it fit to empower schools in my constituency by releasing funds that will upgrade infrastructure and support projects that help schools to become self-reliant,” she said.
Rinette Primary School received US$1 300 to complete a classroom block and US$300 to launch a chick-rearing project aimed at funding school feespayment for vulnerable pupils.
Honourable Chikomo explained that the broader goal was to wean communities off dependency and align development with Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum.
“This initiative helps schools to move away from relying solely on levies. It also complements the curriculum, which promotes the production of goods and services in schools. Ultimately, this contributes positively to the development of Mwenezi and Zimbabwe as a whole,” she said.
She also highlighted the alignment of her work withthe United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and quality education for all.
“Donating towards school infrastructure and funding income-generating projects enhances quality education in the constituency. This is how we bring SDG 4 to life in our local context,” she added.
Honourable Chikomo reaffirmed her long-term vision to build a self-sustaining constituency.
“My dream is to make Mwenezi East self-sufficient and to eradicate the donor syndrome. I am teaching people how to fish. This aligns with President Mnangagwa’s mantra: Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” she said.
She further pointed to the Presidential Solarised Borehole Scheme as a game-changer for youth empowerment and productivity, particularly in agriculture and small-scale enterprises.
“The improvement in people’s standard of living is the true measure of success. Together, we can make Mwenezi East outstanding and contribute to the Second Republic’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030,” she said.
Mwenezi East Constituency Manager, David Tapinda, welcomed the initiatives, calling them a strategic investment in the future of the district.
“These efforts are more than charity — they are structured solutions to long-standing challenges. Honourable Chikomo is setting a strong example for how grassroots development should be done,” said Tapinda.
Rodney Kudzanai, a local youth leader, noted the impact of the MP’s interventions on young people.
“Our youth are no longer risking their lives bycrossing crocodile-infested rivers to seek opportunities outside. They are now active in piggery, goat-keeping, and chick-rearing projects here in Ward 2, thanks to her support,” he said.
The continued rollout of development initiatives under Hon. Chikomo’s leadership has brought new hope to Mwenezi East, with many in the constituency optimistic that the momentum will carry the district closer to achieving sustainable and community-driven growth.
