via MPs shun communities 17 July 2014
Young people in Bikita West have accused Hon Dr Munyaradzi Kereke for shunning and neglecting his constituency after being elected into office during the 2013 harmonised elections. Hon Kereke was elected as an independent candidate for Bikita West following his expulsion by Zanu PF party.
Bikita District Youth Forum Chairperson Ernest Rambe said before being elected into office, Hon Dr Munyaradzi Kereke (MP) was very visible, helping people in Bikita West.
“Hon Dr Munyaradzi Kereke used to visit us very often before the 2013 harmonised elections and he used to donate a lot of things to people in need” Rambe said.
Rambe said everything changed after he was elected and he never set his foot in Bikita West again.
“After the elections when he was elected he never came back here again and we don’t even know where he is” Rambe said.
Rambe said they now only read about Hon Dr Kereke in the newspapers. He said MPs always forget that they have a duty to represent their interests in parliament.
MPs have been making a lot of noise about cars and allowances without doing much for their constituencies. They always forget that they must truly stand with the electorate and look after their needs.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza Youth Forum member Hillary Nhau said their MP Hon Tarusenga of St Marys Constituency only shows up during political rallies.
“Our MP is mostly visible during political rallies of the MDC-T and because of the nature of the meetings it is very difficult to approach him with our concerns” Nhau said.
It is sad that most MPs disappear from their constituencies only to resurface during election period canvassing for votes. Most MPs when elected into office forget that the electorate wants to talk to them about issues affecting them in their everyday lives.
The reputations of our MPs have been soiled for too long as they are seen as people who are just bent on milking treasury for their personal aggrandisement.
Parliamentarians always forget that it means a lot to the voters when they see their representative spending time in the constituency and see the challenges that they face in their daily lives.
According to the Global Parliamentary study, MPs consider their most important role to be law-making (52,3 percent), playing an oversight role (17,2 percent) and solving the constituents issues (12,5 percent).
However, on the other hand, the electorate considers solving the constituency’s problems as the most important role MPs should play.
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