The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
A storm is brewing between Chief Makoni of Rusape and his subjects following the traditional leader’s directive to each household pay US$10 towards construction of his house.
The Sunday Mail has established that villagers are unhappy with Chief Makoni’s demand which they say is tantamount to daylight robbery.
A villager who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals said, “Each household has been summoned to pay the money in order to begin the construction of his house. We feel it is not fair to ask for US$10 which is difficult to come by especially for us in the rural areas.”
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency 2012 Population Census, Makoni district has 63 887 households and a contribution of US$10 each would see over $600 000 being raised.
Another disgruntled villager said the money was being collected by headmen and some families had already paid.
The villager said it was surprising to note that the chief wanted a new home when the one he was currently occupying was in good condition.
Contacted for comment, Chief Makoni said the issue was proposed by the villagers and it was still being debated.
“We are still conceptualising on the issue (of paying towards constructing a new home) nothing has been finalised as yet. I am not aware that some people have begun paying the money.”
Traditional chiefs’ homesteads are constructed with assistance from Government through the Public Works and National Housing Ministry.
Public Works Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and Zimbabwe Chief’s Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira could not be reached for comment as they were said to be out of the country.
Chief Makoni is one of the pioneers of Zunde Ramambo, a traditional social security arrangement designed to mitigate food insecurity.
The programme involves mobilising people to work in the designated fields on a voluntary basis. Once harvested, the crops are stored in granaries kept at the chief’s homestead as strategic food reserves for distribution in the event of food shortages.
