adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
CHIEFS have been urged to deal effectively with law breakers and to revive lost traditional practices within their communities as they are the custodians of cultural values.
Speaking at the installation of Adolf Ncube as Chief Hobodo in Mangwe recently, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, said traditional leaders had to retain the command and respect they once had.
He described chiefs as key pushers of development agendas within rural communities and urged government departments to acknowledge the presence of traditional leaders in their operations.
“As government we value the existence of chiefs as they play a crucial role in the development process as they are custodians of development and humanity.
“The traditional leaders Act supports this as it spells out the duties and roles of chiefs. In this regard it is their duty to ensure that all people uphold and preserve laws. People today have lost respect for chiefs and they no longer recognise their presence,’’ he said.
Minister Kasukuwere urged community members to show respect for their chiefs as they had been appointed by the President of the country.
He said Government realised the significance of chiefs which explained why some chieftaincies which had been sanctioned during the colonial era were revived.
The Minister said chiefs were responsible for the vulnerable and ensuring food security in their areas. He said traditional leaders had to ensure that natural resources were not being exploited without people benefiting.
“As Government we rely on chiefs to play a watchdog role to ensure that responsible authorities and Ministries that have been tasked with the duty of implementing development projects are transparent in their operations.
“Make sure that roads are rehabilitated in your areas and if you see any anomalies the culprits have to be brought to book. You have to be up to date with all development projects happening in your areas and ensure that Zim Asset is successful in your areas,” he said.
In a brief history on the appointment of chiefs in Mangwe District Minister Kasukuwere said two chieftaincies in the area were sanctioned during the colonial rule one of them being that of Hobodo area.
He said the Hobodo area chief was demoted to headman in 1951. He said the district of Mangwe was restricted to three chiefs instead of five which made the duties of the remaining chiefs difficult.
Minister Kasukuwere said Government after attainment of independence reinstated Chief Hobodo and Chief Sangulube.
He said the first chief who was appointed under the Hobodo family was Honye Dzapasi who was survived by Mpangana and later Hoba Malaba Hobodo and Mahango Tshaloba.
He said Simon Thela Ncube later assumed the chieftaincy and now his son Adolf Ncube was his successor.
Also speaking at the same event, Matabeleland South provincial chief’s chairperson, Chief Maduna advised the newly appointed chief to prioritise uplifting the welfare of people during his tenure.
He advised Chief Hobodo to promote unity among people in his area by treating his subordinates equally.
Ncube (54) has been installed as the new chief of Hobodo area following a two-year wrangle which had been going on over the chieftaincy as his cousins and uncles were against his appointment.
The dispute came to a halt following intervention by Government after the families involved had failed to resolve it on their own.
Thela Ncube passed away in January 2013.
Online Reporter