Shurugwi MP outlines legislative priorities
ANESU MASAMVU
Zanu-PF Member of Parliament (MP) for Shurugwi South,Wilson Mhuri has identified infrastructure development as one of his top legislative priorities.
Mhuri, who previously held the positions of president of the Zimbabwe Institute of Geomatics and vice president of the Zimbabwe Construction Industry, claimed that his experience in the corporate sector would be his strongest asset. He intends to use this experience to advocate for laws and policies that benefit the public in areas where he claims there are gaps in the system.
“I am really excited to be one of the new members of the 10th Parliament. I have a lot of energy which I want to use in Parliament.
“I have been exposed in the corporate world and I think this experience which I have I am going to use it in Parliament. I have seen a lot of gaps which need to be closed and these need legal instruments to close and I think I will be very relevant in Parliament in terms of pushing for legislation for the areas I have identified,” Mhuri said.
Mhuri, a surveyor and expert in road building, added: “We want to make sure that we complement President Emmerson Mnangagwa in moving people from poverty to prosperity. So myself as an engineer, I want to believe that I am going to be able to complement the President’s efforts in terms of infrastructure development.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done especially in Shurugwi, be it road construction, dam construction, the construction of schools. So infrastructure development will be much of my work especially in Shurugwi because they are a lot of areas that need my attention, including the construction of bridges, and health care facilities.
“So in Parliament, I think the President’s vision will also be critical in what policies we pursue and push for so that this can be achieved.”
Shurugwi South, a mineral-rich region , has given nearly every other MP a headache.
Mhuri, however, asserted that he is capable of handling the situation.
“As you are aware, the Indigenization Act has been set aside so that we can be open for business, which is a good thing, but we also need to look beyond that and look for legislation that talks about how people in communities with resources directly benefit. That is my suggestion with regard to that aspect.
“So firstly, we need policy that speaks to mining companies having a clear framework on how they employ locals. Another issue is sub contracts, as you know mines sub contract work to certain companies, so we want to make sure that our locals are equal to the task. We need to empower our people, we need our people to open companies, we need them to be equipped with income generating projects so that when we have legislation, they can fit into that law,”Mhuri said.
Mhuri, who runs Digital Group Holdings, an engineering works entity, spoke about his strategy for dealing with the poor roads that characterize Shurugwi and how he will advocate for their reconstruction and rehabilitation.
He said: “The issue of roads is one of the most topical issues in my area but I am happy to announce that the major road which goes from Musasa to Mhandamabwe has been approved by Cabinet and the contractor has already been approved and given the task on what to do and we are now waiting for Treasury to give the go ahead on the financial contracts. We have been pushing that they commence work before the rainy season.”
Mhuri added:“Regarding the major local roads which are under council, what is needed is identifying collaborations with development partners, mining companies should also be involved because they are using those roads as well, but we do not want to be dependent on them, we want to create a situation where we have MOUs between councils and development partners which are mines and local companies so that we allocate each other roads and bridges that need attention so that it becomes a collaborative effort.
So I will make it happen, and I will make sure that I put everyone under one roof, that is the council and local companies so that we reach an agreement and we assist each other.”
