Chief Gwesela ushers in new era of traditional justice

FROM dispensing justice under a tree to presiding over cases in a US$226 000 modern court, Chief Gwesela of Zhombe has seen traditional justice take a giant leap towards dignity and modernity.

The Chief Gwesela Community Court, commissioned at the weekend by Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube during the commemoration of Culture Day in Zhombe, is expected to improve access to justice for communities across six wards.

The court’s catchment area covers about 41 village heads across communal and resettlement areas in Kwekwe District, including Wards 2, 4, 9, 10, 15 and 32.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Minister Ncube said the facility demonstrated the critical role played by traditional leaders in promoting peace, resolving community disputes, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening devolved governance.

“It’s indeed a distinct honour and monumental privilege to address you on this watershed occasion of the joint commemoration of Culture Day and official commissioning of the US$226 000 Chief Gwesela Community Court here in Zhombe, Kwekwe District,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the court would strengthen the lower tier of the country’s legal and governance system through community courts, Village Assemblies and Ward Assemblies.

He said the development was in line with the National Development Strategy 2, particularly its focus on regional development and inclusivity through devolution and decentralisation, good governance, peace and security, social development and infrastructure development.

“Today’s dual celebrations underscore the role of traditional leaders in promoting peace, preservation of cultural heritage, resolving community disputes and supporting the devolved lower tier of our legal and governance systems through community courts, Village and Ward Assemblies that buttress National Identity, Social Cohesion and Economic Development as we glide towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030 envisioned by President Mnangagwa,” he said.

Minister Ncube congratulated Chief Gwesela for pioneering initiatives that brought justice and culture together as key pillars of community identity and development.

He said traditional leaders had an important role to play in safeguarding peace and social cohesion while ensuring that communities remained connected to their cultural heritage.

“Allow me to congratulate Chief Gwesela for pioneering transformational cultural and governance footprints that bring together justice and culture as key pillars of our collective identity and development aspirations as guided by the NDS 2 pillars on Regional Development and Inclusivity through Devolution and Decentralisation; Good Governance, Institution Building, Peace and Security; Social Development, Gender and Social Protection; Job Creation, Youth Development, Sport, Creative Industry and Culture; and Infrastructure Development and Housing, among others,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the community court would serve communities in Wards 2, 4, 9, 10, 15 and 32, with a wide catchment area involving approximately 41 village heads across communal and resettlement areas.

He said culture was critical in preserving indigenous knowledge systems and transmitting the values of Ubuntu, including unity, discipline, respect, integrity, hard work, responsibility, solidarity, hospitality and peaceful coexistence.

“Culture safeguards indigenous knowledge systems and plays a critical role in shaping society as it promotes and transmits values of Ubuntu that encompass unity, discipline, respect, integrity, hard work, responsibility, solidarity, hospitality, care for one another and peaceful coexistence among communities and across generations,” he said.

The minister noted that culture should not be confined to ceremonies, dances and traditional attire, but should also be viewed as an economic asset encompassing indigenous languages, traditional knowledge, crafts, food and literature.

“Zimbabwe needs to safeguard its traditional identity against the effects of globalisation while leveraging its cultural heritage to drive innovation, modernisation and industrialisation,” said the Minister.

He highlighted Government initiatives aimed at promoting arts, culture and heritage, including the declaration of May as National Culture Month, Village Business Units embracing cultural tourism and rural industrialisation, cultural villages, and the preservation and revitalisation of heritage sites and monuments.

Minister Ncube also commended First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for programmes aimed at restoring Ubuntu, strengthening the family unit and promoting the dignity of girls, widows, orphans and other vulnerable groups.

“I commend our Health, Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Ambassador, vaMaMoyo, Her Excellency, the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. A. Mnangagwa, for her sterling work in the advancement of our culture and heritage through programmes like Nhanga/Gota, Africana Family Humanism Programme, Zviperengo cultural quiz program and the National Traditional Cookout Competitions focused on restoring our values of Ubuntu, the image of the family unit, dignity of the girl child, widows, orphans, child-headed families and victims of drug and substance abuse.”

He urged communities to strengthen cultural restoration and preservation while addressing practices that undermine human dignity and the rights of women, children, widows and other vulnerable people,” he said.

The minister said the construction of the community court demonstrated the importance of partnerships between Government, the private sector, traditional institutions and local communities.

He commended the corporate sector and other stakeholders who contributed towards the establishment of the facility, saying such partnerships were critical in addressing development challenges.

“May this Community Court stand as a beacon of justice, peace, reconciliation, hope, community confidence and a practical example of how local initiatives contribute towards national priorities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Midlands Provincial Chiefs Assembly chairperson Senator Chief Ngungumbane of Mberengwa hailed Chief Gwesela for constructing the court, saying the facility would enhance the dignity and authority of traditional leaders in carrying out their judicial responsibilities.

Chief Ngungumbane said traditional leaders should not be expected to hear cases under trees when they were performing an important function within the country’s justice system.

“We want to thank Chief Gwesela for building such a beautiful structure. On behalf of traditional leaders, this is an exciting moment as it fulfils one of the pillars of our governance infrastructure development,” he said.

He said the new facility would improve the working environment for chiefs while giving members of the public a dignified place in which to have their cases heard.

“Such a building will enhance the status and dignity of chiefs as you won’t be trying or hearing cases under the trees,” said Chief Ngungumbane.

He commended the business community for supporting the construction of the facility and called for continued partnerships between Government, the private sector and traditional institutions.

Chief Ngungumbane said such partnerships were important in ensuring that justice was properly delivered to communities.

He said justice should not merely be seen to be done, but must be done in accordance with the Constitution.

The traditional leaders’ representative said the new court would also improve confidence in traditional justice by ensuring that parties to disputes were accorded a dignified environment in which their cases could be heard and determined.

“Parties to a case also have a dignified place where they can have their cases heard and judgment delivered by the chief,” he said.

Chief Ngungumbane said the commissioning of the facility was a significant development for traditional governance and service delivery in Zhombe.