By Staff Reporter
Born of a peasant farmer in Masvingo rural, 29 year old Zivanai Mhetu set on a mission to become a representative of the people.
Triggered by the high levels of poverty,policy inconsistencies in the economy and unemployment, Mhetu found joining politics as the only, if not feasible route to emancipate people from social political and economic ills.
During those early stages, young Mhetu embarked on a retail business to empower himself before he could tackle community problems.
Some of the problems he identified by then were, but not limited to, public transport problems which affected business, poor road network, poverty, inflation, government policies out of touch with public aspirations, power outages, archaic ways of policing hence need to modernize home affairs.
In addition ,he identified Infrastructural development and a strong economy that can compete with highly competitive eastern powers.
Guided by his mission to become a politician and voice of the people, Honourable Mhetu contested in the 2023 harmonised elections to become Member of Parliament for Epworth North Constituency which he won convincingly against other contesting candidates.
Hon. Mhetu is both a shrewd and decisive politician and businessman who has seen it all and is well travelled.
His Curriculum vitae(CV) speaks for itself since it is a reflection of a man gifted with both intellectual and leadership acumen.
He is a former university of Zimbabwe Student Executive Council Vice President (2015), former National Spokesperson for Zimbabwe National Students Union (2016), Member of Parliament for CCC (2023) and shadow Minister of Transport and infrastructure development.
Added to that ,he is a self made businessman and
Former provincial chairman of MDC (2021).
Hon Mhetu holds a Bachelor of science in Public Administration UZ (2017),a Masters in public policy and governance attained from Africa University (2021) and is currently a candidate for a
Doctorate of public Administration (pending) university of Fort Hare.
Reminiscing on his past and where he is today Hon. Mhetu says he only came to Harare after completing his Ordinary level education but is now happy to be representing the people, a mission so far accomplished.
” I came here as a teenager and set out on a mission to represent the people. It was a journey worth taking”, he says.
” I had to equip myself with knowledge and business skills to embark on this journey and so far ,it has worked. I give thanks to the almighty”, he concludes.
At the tail end of last year(2025), Hon. Mhetu was able to officiate at a function twhere he had electrified a whole secondary School in his constituency.
Working with the community he was able to blast a road blocked by big rocks to pave way for easy transport passage for commuters using both his personal and constituency development funds.
Now at forty four years (44), Hon. Mhetu boasts of several business entities in retail , hospitality and properties.
He says he is a man of his words and only the sky is the limit.