The Sunday Mail
Munyaradzi Musiiwa
Midlands Correspondent
GOVERNMENT should replace chiefs’ regalia with something that reflects the country’s cultural values and practices, Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
He said the current regalia, which includes a red and purple gown, perpetuates colonialism.
Gen Chiwenga (Rtd) made these remarks while introducing President Emmerson Mnangagwa during a chiefs’ indaba at the Zanu PF Convention Centre in Gweru yesterday.
He said, “Your Excellency, my grandfather was a chief and during the colonial period, he was victimised for refusing to wear the red gown and that hard hat.”
“It was introduced by our former colonial masters and does not resemble our culture. We have our own traditional regalia which we wear during ritual ceremonies. Your Excellency, my suggestion is that we change this regalia with immediate effect. I don’t think it should take us a month to do that.”
The VP described President Mnangagwa as an astute leader with unquestionable liberation struggle credentials.
He said the President had shown his commitment and dedication to serve the country since the days of the liberation struggle.
“Our President, Shumba Murambwi, was born in 1942 in Zvishavane and his family was sent to the then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) after exhibiting passive resistance by defying Bantu Commissioners (now District Administrators) during the colonial era,” said VP Chiwenga.
“While in Zambia, Cde Mnangagwa underwent military training under Zapu. He was then sent to China were he received training before returning to the country where he was then arrested for derailing a train. He was sentenced to death but was exonerated by virtue of his young age.
“He then served 10 years in prison and it is during this time that he studied his law degree before finishing it in Lusaka Zambia, where he was sent after being released from prison.
“He came back and became the secretary for security in the party, doubling as special assistant to the President (former President Mugabe).
“After Independence, he served in different capacities before being chosen as President of Zanu PF and subsequently the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.”
The chiefs’ meeting was also attended by several Cabinet Ministers, senior Government officials and service chiefs.
