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Sukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
President of the Zimbabwe Chiefs Council Senator Fortune Charumbira says the Government can never be complete without traditional leaders. Speaking on the sidelines of the installation ceremonies of Chief Bankwe and Chief Mposi in Mberengwa District last week, Chief Charumbira said the role of traditional leaders is an important support system to national governance mechanism.

“The Government is not complete without traditional leaders. Traditional leaders play a very important role in giving direction to the leaders of the country because they are the ones who live with the people in communities,” he said.
He said as chiefs have the right to be involved in leadership and political issues.

“We, as chiefs, have the right to be involved in politics because when we speak, we speak on behalf of the people. We know what the people in our communities want. So, when we talk about political issues, it is for the good of our people.

“Recently the opposition parties were questioning our involvement in politics as traditional leaders, and they were complaining about why we support President Mnangagwa.

“But our answer is simple, we support what our people want and that is why we were fully behind the soldiers during Operation Restore Legacy last year as it is what the people wanted,” he said.

Chief Charumbira said chiefs play critical roles ranging from facilitating development to safeguarding culture and heritage in their respective communities.

“To safeguard culture and heritage, chiefs play important roles like presiding over the ward assembly, arbitrating over various customary disputes, carrying out duties assigned by Government, and providing leading roles in soil conversation and other natural resources,” he said.

First to be installed was Chief Bankwe whose name is Jeremial Sibanda.
The next to be installed was Chief Mposi III, whose name is Edmos Mpangeri. Chief Mposi will join other chiefs and be a board member of the Mberengwa Community Share Ownership Scheme.