Hats off to ZDDT – Former Ward One Councillor

Chrispen Tabvura CT, interviewed the former Councillor Edward Manning EM now in fulltime ‘informal trading’ in the City of Kings and he shared his experience with ZDDT.

CT: Hello Mr. Manning, how are you? I am now with ZDDT and I have come to chat with you about your current business after having left Council.

EM: Ah! Hi Chris, now you are working with a life moulding Organisation. I am glad to hear that. ZDDT is an organisation that moulded Bulawayo City Council and all its City fathers from scratch. I am a product of this organisation.

CT: What do you mean Mr. Manning?

EM: When I joined Bulawayo City Council as a Councillor in 2008, I was raw in leading the public and, also, as far as presenting myself to the community. I was lucky to fall into the hands of ZDDT who made my duties comfortable through their effective leadership training.

CT: Can you brief me how you were moulded by ZDDT?

EM: It was after attending Leadership Skills workshops and Conflict Management that I found that I was not going to manage. My first encounter with the community in my ward was full of anxiety as I did not know how to handle it. Political differences overshadowed every move and thus leading to poor communication with the former Councillor. I learnt every leadership tactic from ZDDT who I can safely call my ‘University of Leadership’.

CT: How was your relationship with your ward community and general population during your tenure as Councillor?

EM: As I told you from the beginning, ZDDT moulded me into being a good leader and best communicator. I sailed through ZDDT leadership workshops that saw me applying those tactics to my informal membership in ZCEA for their growth. I managed to transform Ward One into a formidable place, an  empowered community. If you visit Ward One today, they talk about Manning in every corner because I produced tangible results in their lives.

CT: How did you transform them?

EM: I approached my mentors ZDDT to facilitate training workshops for my ward thereby empowering everyone with knowledge. More than 2000 people are now self-employed in Ward One.

CT: From your briefing, it’s more like ZDDT are the life savers for your Ward?

EM: Yes Chris, they are. I am now into fulltime informal trading and hope to get new training workshops from ZDDT again. They also established a nutrition garden for Ward One.

CT: What is your advice to other Councillors and upcoming Councillors?

EM: They will never be Councillors without ZDDT and they have to undergo workshops. They need ZDDT and only life moulding courses are done there for every leader, so they must make friends with that organisation.

CT: Hope you will pass the training to others?

EM: I am busy doing that Chris. Why will I be selfish when I acquired skills for free from ZDDT? I must carry the torch I was given to switch others on. I am also going to request ZDDT to regularly visit my informal trader community for updates.

CT: Thank you Mr Manning for your time. I will be in touch for updates on your informal community work.

EM: You are welcome; pass my regards to Mr Spooner and Angela.

CT: Will do sir, have a good time.