Tinotenda Hove – Masvingo North legislator Brian Mudumi has come under scrutiny after appearing to leverage a disaster at Marongere Primary School to reinforce political messaging aligned with the government’s controversial 2030 agenda that seek to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office.

Mudumi recently visited the school in Ward 2, Zimuto, following a destructive windstorm that tore off classroom roofs and left critical infrastructure in ruins. While the visit was framed as a response to the emergency, critics argue that it quickly shifted into a platform for political positioning rather than immediate, practical intervention.

During the tour, Mudumi acknowledged the extent of the damage, including collapsed toilets and exposed classrooms, but his remarks to parents and the School Development Committee (SDC) leaned heavily on assurances rather than concrete timelines or visible action.

He emphasized the urgency of replacing roofing sheets so that learners could resume classes, yet no clear plan or resources were outlined on the ground.

The MP pledged that repairs would be completed before schools reopen and claimed he was “engaging relevant authorities.”

However, observers noted that such statements are frequently made in similar situations without follow-through, raising doubts about whether this case will be any different.

Mudumi also invoked the government’s broader development narrative, referencing the vision led by Emmerson Mnangagwa of “leaving no one and no place behind.” Critics argue that bringing national political slogans into a localised crisis risks turning a humanitarian situation into a campaign talking point, especially in the absence of immediate relief efforts.

For affected parents and learners, the priority remains swift reconstruction and safe learning conditions. Yet the visit has left some questioning whether the catastrophe is being used more as a stage for political messaging than as a call for urgent, tangible assistance.