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The Herald, 16 April, 1984

CHIEFS forced to step down by the colonial government because of their outspoken views will be helped to regain their chieftainship, the Prime Minister, Cde Mugabe, said yesterday.

Speaking at the installation of Cde Titus Matibiri Karigamombe as Chief Zvimba at Murombedzi growth point, near Chinhoyi, Cde Mugabe said those governments wanted to phase out Zimbabwe’s original way of choosing chiefs by silencing opponents and appointing puppets as chiefs.

After the first Chimurenga at the end of last century, most chiefs had their powers restricted or taken away from them by those governments, because it was feared that they would incite the people to take up arms. They were also not allowed to take part in politics.

Chieftainships had, therefore, been abused since then and most of the chiefs had lost cultural direction because of the oppressive requirements of those governments.

“We continue to encourage chiefs to restore their dignity among the people and assume their important traditional role as community leaders,” Cde Mugabe said.

The Prime Minister urged the chiefs to join Zanu (PF) and work for unity, progress and development. Most of them were already members of the party “and this is a very good development because it helps them to gain the people’s confidence”.

Those who were forced to leave their chieftainship by the colonialists would be helped to regain it by the Government provided that they were still wanted by their people. 

Cde Mugabe said the Government was considering a general review of the chiefs’ allowances because they had not been increased since independence. All salaries and wages have increased since then.

He said the Ministry of Local Government and Town Planning was considering various proposals on the new structure of the chiefs’ allowances.

Cde Karigamombe became the 19th Chief Zvimba since the clan took chieftainship more than 100 years ago.

His installation yesterday was attended by all the chiefs and headmen in Mashonaland West, led by Chief Jeremiah Chirau.

He was installed by the Minister of Local Government and Town Planning, Cde Enos Chikowore, who appealed to chiefs to refrain from petty squabbles and work for the development of the country.

The ceremony was attended by several Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, the Governor of Mashonaland West, Cde Mudhumeni Chivende, and the Lomagundi branch chairman of the Commercial Farmers’ Union, Mr Frazer McKenzie.

Mr McKenzie donated a bull, which weighed 1000 kg, to be slaughtered at the ceremony.

Lessons For Today 

 Traditional leaders play an important role in society. They help to promote and uphold cultural values, facilitate development and resolve disputes in their communities.

In Zimbabwe, chiefs’ issues are dealt with under the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17. This is a legislation that governs the roles, responsibilities, and functions of traditional leaders in Zimbabwe. 

The Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa has taken a deliberate approach to ensure that chieftainships that were affected during the colonial era are restored.

Chiefs are a vital cog in terms of development and as such should be ably supported for them to perform their duties effectively. The Second Republic has shown its commitment to improving the welfare of Chiefs through the allocation of vehicles, electrification of Chiefs’ homes and the provision of water and sanitation facilities as well as tillage programmes.