As the election date draws closer, aspiring candidates have been bringing forward their manifestos outlining their aspirations. Hwange West Constituency boasts of aspiring Member of Parliament Philani Moyo (PM) who took over from Nkosilathi Jiyane who had been the shadow MP since 2018.This week our reporter Rutendo Mapfumo (RM) chats with the aspiring MP to find out who he is and what his hopes are.
RM. Who is Philani Moyo?
PM. Philani Moyo was born In Jambezi Chisuma in Jengwe area which is 30 km from Victoria Falls City. I grew up in the rural areas where I did my Primary education at Chisuma primary school and later went to Mosi –oa-tunya high school for my secondary education.
I was born in a family of 10 children, six girls and four boys. I am married and have seven children. I am also a Pastor of the United African Apostolic Church who is a tourism business man.
RM. What is your contribution to the tourism Industry?
PM. I am a tourism player who has been in the tourism industry for 26 years, running a rafting company and promoting sport tourism in the resort town of Victoria falls. I have studied in the diaspora , UK , London and I have gained a lot of knowledge in the tourism sector.
RM. What are your philanthropic projects?
PM. I have been supporting local soccer and netball teams and also league teams for rural teams. I have a company which does rescuing and we have been involved in the Chimanimani disaster, with my team we have rescued people and retrieved bodies from the water. I also do borehole drilling and to date in Chisuma and Mvuthu areas I have managed to drill 13 boreholes and I am looking forward to drilling six more and also putting solar systems in these two rural areas, under Chief Shana and Chief Mvuthu.
I started donating and building school blocks in Victoria Falls. In 2008 and 2009 I initiated food donations during the 2008-2009 era, where I was fighting malnutrition in my community. We have donated some sanitary pads and reusable pads to eight secondary schools in my constituency.
RM. How did you get into politics?
PM. Politically, I can say that I was born a politician but only started to be active during 2013 when I becamechairman for Mkhosana district. The same year I was selected as the provincial member for science and technology in Matebeleland North. I won the primary elections and now represent Zanu PF for Hwange West to be a member of parliament in the coming election.
RM. What are your aspirations as the Hwange West National Assembly candidate?
PM. We need to fix the roads in rural areas, solve the water problems in Victoria Falls city. I am advocating for a college here in Victoria Falls where our youths can be trained in tourism courses and create employment. We need to build some clinics, there are still areas where people are unable to access clinics. They still walk long distances to access health care. We also need to put some gardens in our community to complement our leaders’ agenda of not leaving anyone behind.
Source New Ziana
