The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube
RURAL Development, Protection and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage minister, Abednigo Ncube has urged chiefs to play a pivotal role in ensuring peace, social justice and fostering family unity within their areas of jurisdiction.
He said this at the installation of Mr Chinheza Chigwajara as Chief Matsiwo in Mbire district recently. Min Ncube said Government had entrusted traditional leaders with the mandate of settling customary issues hence the chief’s court is the first in Zimbabwe’s judiciary system.
“Traditional leaders play a central role in the development of their communities through sub-district structures such as village assemblies, ward assemblies, Government departments and Non-Governmental Organisations. “It is the role of traditional leaders to discourage child marriages. “As Government we are worried that several cases of rape, child abuse and gender based violence are on the rise even here in rural areas, chiefs must prevent such cases,” said Min Ncube.
He urged chiefs to discharge their duties with diligence and fairness. “Chiefs are the burden bearer for people hence they should exhibit selfless and exemplary leadership,” he said.
Turning to the area now under Chief Matsiwo, Min Ncube said since independence Government had registered tangible progress in the district by working with traditional leaders. “At Independence in 1980, the area had three primary schools and to date there are 14 primary schools. It also had one secondary school but to date boasts of seven secondary schools, (while) clinics have also increased from two to five,” he said.
The office of Chief Matsiwo fell vacant following the death of Mr Francis Chirume on September 4 in 2011. Since then Mr Christopher Chirume, the late chief’s son took over the reins in an acting capacity until May 15 two years ago. The Matsiwo succession custom rotates the chieftainship among five families namely, Bangomwe, Karondora, Chisamira, Kaude and Mutira or Chitakuwe.
In Zimbabwe, Chiefs are appointed in terms of section 3 (1) of the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17).
The Ministry of Rural Development Protection and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage has installed four chiefs since the beginning of this year. These are Chief Ndanga (Mr Wilsen Makono) in Zaka, Chief Masunda (Mr Aaron Nyoni) in Zvishavane, Chief Chizungu (Mr Tshuma Komex) in Mberengwa and Chief Matsiwo.
