By Byron Mutingwende
Monday the 30th of July 2018 will witness the re-election of the ever hardworking Member of the National Assembly for Kuwadzana Constituency Honourable Betty Nhambu-Kaseke.
Honourable Nhambu-Kaseke is not only a motherly figure but a philanthropist, devoted Christian and a multiple award winning female MP in Harare Province out of the 29 constituencies.
Among her full honours and achieved awards are Honorary Doctorates in Business Leadership, Human Letters by the International Institute of Philanthropy, a Masters of Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship by the International Women’s University, Women’s Top Leadership Excellence Award of 2017 and the Top Community Leader of the Year 2018.
She has left an indelible footprint of development in Kuwadzana in the three years she has been in charge of the constituency that lagged behind in terms of development since the turn of the New Millennium.
Honourable Kaseke is restoring the Kuwadzana legacy by driving infrastructure development, which is the key to unlocking investments in the community.
“The tarred roads had become an eyesore so I funded the repairs and maintenance of the main feeder roads in the constituency. Commuter omnibuses were dropping people far away from their homes because the roads were impassable,” said Honourable Kaseke.
The development advocate has initiated a number of women empowerment projects in a quest for gender parity. She has facilitated the training of more than 400 women in business. When they graduated, she equipped them financially and materially.
Her work in developing and improving women’s economic status did not end there. Hon Kaseke funded 150 women to go to South Africa (Mesina) for a business trip. She funded the capacitation of women through training in organic gardening held in Victoria Falls for a month. At international carnivals, she enabled women to showcase their products.
In any society, the youth play a central role in development. In pursuit of that goal, Hon Kaseke created a vocational training centre in Kuwadzana. She is working tirelessly to empower the girl child through beauty pageants.
In partnership with StarBrite for talent identification, Hon Kaseke hosted and paid for the participation of youths in music. Some of them have already started recording their own albums and presenting their skills at national level. In 2016, the overall winner of the show was from the constituency and walked away with goods worth $20 000.
The MP has constructed a bridge linking the main constituency to the Crowborough Farm popularly known as Paddocks. In the past they used a plank, which caused real challenges in terms of crossing the streams.
“I have repaired more than 50 tower lights from 2013 up to date and this programme is still going on. We are currently installing new tower lights in dark areas like Tynwald and Kuwadzana Extension,” Hon Kaseke said.
She is Patron of Kuwadzana Housing Association that is helping members to get title deeds, water and rates. The Trust has facilitated acquisition of land to accommodate 1000 families from average to low income earners.
Hon Kaseke drilled and donated boreholes to Kuwadzana Community to address challenges of erratic and unclean water. She has drilled 19 boreholes in four districts in the constituency due to an ever-increasing urban population.
The Betty Kaseke Foundation has distributed over 5000 blankets to the elderly people and orphanages in Kuwadzana. It has assisted more than 10 000 families with clothes, shoes, rice and maize meal in the constituency. The Foundation opened a clinic at Kuwadzana 6 Shopping Centre.
Hon Kaseke has vowed to fight corruption, improve service delivery, facilitate construction of primary schools, erect tower lights and a police station, build vocational youth training centres, recreational facilities, community halls and ensure that home industries are functional.