At the Kuwadzana West community centre, there was a group discussion involving 10 women, 9 men and Graham Chuck and Peter Murphy. Our principal host was the Hon Tauya Mauka, a former ZANU-PF MP for the Kuwadzana West constituency. The women were organised into the revived Association of Women’s Clubs (AWC), and they had been participating in the Agricultural Show, which had concluded on August 30. The discussion was led by Senator Sekai Holland, representing Zimbabwe Peacebuilding Initiative (ZimPI).
The topics covered were the history of the Association of Women’s Clubs going back to 1908, the need to progress development projects in Kuwadzana, and how to draw on traditional culture to develop a contemporary program of Sports for National Healing, and Music and Dance for National Healing.
Another topic was the naming of the local ZANU-PF branch after Sekai Holland, and the possibility of refurbishing the Holland Hall (no relation) and a fairly large piece of land. Senator Holland projected a big vision of a 5-storey building that would include a market, offices, training centre and community hall.
Several times in the discussion Senator Holland noted her role in joining local MDC members into ZANU-PF and she called for the re-election of Hon Mauka at the 2028 national elections. She said that this was necessary to reestablish stability in the government. She said there should be intergenerational continuity which embraces the best of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ZANU-PF. She strongly asserted the need for freedom of speech, association, movement and expression and insisted on an end to all forms of political violence. She said that the priorities should be justice and peace, and gave Australia as a model.
She made a point about the Boy Child Project Partnering with the Girl Child Initiative, as a way for young men and women to work together for the common good, avoiding negative practices and promoting positive practices.
A local ZANU-PF youth, Othaniel, explained that drug and alcohol abuse among young people was a major barrier to community organising, and this needed to be addressed through sport and other activities. Unemployment is a very serious problem and peace is essential to enable any development. Senator Holland in response urged them to create a football team and demand better health services.
Peter Murphy explained the anti-sanctions campaign and this went into some detail about the recent change of policy of the EU, the UK and the experience at the CHOGM 2024 in Samoa, where Zimbabwe's effort to rejoin the Commonwealth was delayed further.
Senator Holland introduced the concept of an Industrial Innovation Park, focusing on production of sun-dried vegetables and processed vegetables.
We inspected the land set aside for the Peace Village and the land around Holland Hall, where there is a pottery, chicken production and a small gymnasium. This land should be transformed into a Community Industrial Innovation Park said Senator Holland.
