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Midlands Correspondent
Chief Bvute of Mberengwa district has been installed, nearly three years after the death of his predecessor.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo, the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Owen Ncube said chiefs played a critical role in facilitating development and safeguarding cultural heritage.

Mr Andrew Bvute succeeds Mr Nkatazo Siziba who died on September 4, 2015.

Minister Ncube urged the new Chief Bvute to ensure that the culture of Zimbabwe was preserved through the institution of traditional leadership.

“It is imperative for your chieftainship to ensure that there is an outright preservation of the extended family and the promotion of the traditional family life regardless of these modern Western tendencies and technological advancements taking centre stage,” he  said.

“Chiefs play a critical role in facilitating the development and safeguarding the cultural heritage.”

Minister Ncube said Chief Bvute will be responsible for promoting and upholding cultural values within the community under his jurisdiction, presiding over customary and local courts, assisting Government agencies in the area to carry out their duties as assigned by the Government and the preservation of natural resources.

He said chiefs and other traditional leaders should supervise the community to create a conducive environment in the upcoming elections.

“We will soon be holding the 2018 general elections on July 30, it is therefore imperative that the chiefs and other traditional leaders supervise the community to create a conducive environment for people to vote in a free and fair manner,” he  said.

Minister Ncube said Government under the new dispensation had taken measure to improve the welfare of chiefs through the provision of electricity, drilling boreholes at every chief’s homestead and in the process of providing roads to the community.

“The Government has provided vehicles to every chief for easy mobility and supervision of ongoing projects,” he said.

“The Government under the new dispensation has also taken measures to improve the welfare of chiefs through the provision of electricity and drilling boreholes at every chief’s homestead.”