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George Maponga in Masvingo

Newly-minted president of the Pan African Parliament (PAP),Chief Fortune Charumbira, over the weekend, received a grand welcome in Masvingo when he made his inaugural visit to his home province following his ascension to the top job at the legislative body.

Chief Charumbira (60) became PAP’s fifth president following his crushing win in elections held in Midrand, South African on June 29.

He succeeded Cameroonian Mr Roger Nkodo Dang and his election came after a tumultuous few months as the pan African legislative body haggled over the need to adopt the principle of rotation in choosing its President.

The new PAP leader,who is also president of the Zimbabwe Chiefs Council made a triumphant return to Masvingo to meet his supporters and his kinsmen in Masvingo sparking wild celebrations in the ancient city and at his rural home in Mhazha village under Mudavanhu area of Charumbira.

At a city hotel, hundreds of people gathered to welcome Chief Charumbira on Saturday night amid singing which went on until the early hours of Sunday.

Celebrations were also simultaneously taking place at Chief Charumbira’s rural homestead at Mhazha village where singing,dancing and feasting took centre stage.

Addressing hundreds of people who flocked to his homestead Chief Charumbira paid tribute to President Mnangagwa for the PAP crown.

“If it were not for President Mnangagwa who gave me his blessings and support I wouldn’t have come this far.

“I am indebted to President Mnangagwa and help me to thank our good and great leader,”said Chief Charumbira to rapturous applause.

Chief Charumbira said the PAP job was for Zimbabwe and pledged to use his new post to unite Africa and advance the cause of African peoples.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chair Cde Robson Mavhenyengwa also thanked President Mnangagwa for supporting Chief Charumbira to become PAP president saying a lot of positives were taking place around the country after the advent of the new dispensation.

The same sentiments were echoed by Zanu PF Central Committee member Cde Maina Mandava who hailed Chief Charumbira as a visionary saying his election to lead PAP further confirmed that Zimbabweans were born leaders.

“Zimbabweans have always been leaders,your(Chief Charumbira) election to become PAP president is further confirmation that we are a country of Kings and leaders. Leaders are anointed by God “she said.

A war collaborator Cde Namatirai Chivanga from Charumbira said they felt honoured that their chief was voted to lead the entire Africa at PAP. She said Chief Charumbira’s election by more than 275 PAP MPs from 55 African countries showed that he was a great leader and was also endorsement of the type of leaders moulded in Zimbabwe.

Chief Charumbira became the first person from southern Africa to occupy the PAP presidency.