adminHerald Reporters
Chiefs from all parts of the country yesterday elected 16 of their members who will take seats in the Senate alongside 80 other Senators.
At least two chiefs were elected from each province and will join Chief’s Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira and his deputy Chief Mtshane Khumalo who became the first senators after they were elected last week.
Chiefs from Mashonaland East unanimously re-elected Chief Musarurwa (Enos Masakwa) and Chief Nyamukoho (Samson Katsande) as the provincial Senate representatives.
The elections were conducted by ZEC officials and presided over by Mr Collins Munetsi.
Chief Musarurwa promised to articulate issues from the people without fear or favour during his tenure.
“I will present your issues without fear or favour,” he said. “Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me.”
Chief Nyamukoho said he would contribute meaningfully to the development of Zimbabwe. “I will go and work with others in the Senate for the development of our country,” he said.
The Senate will comprise 80 members, with 60 of them selected from the 10 provinces using a system of proportional representation, while 18 will be chiefs and two will represent the disabled.
In Masvingo, Chief Chitanga (Mr Feleni Chauke) of Mwenezi and Chief Marozva (Mr Phillip Mudhe) of Bikita were elected at the Chiefs’ Hall during elections presided over by ZEC provincial elections officer Mr Zex Pudurai.
They managed to shrug off the challenge of four other chiefs who took part in the polls. A total of 19 substantive chiefs from the province took part in the elections in which Chief Chitanga polled 13 votes followed by Chief Marozva who polled seven votes. The other chiefs who contested the elections were Chief Murinye, Chief Nyakunhuwa, Chief Serima and Chief Nhema.
Chief Chitanga said he would push for the improvement in the standards of living for chiefs in Masvingo. Chief Marozva said he would push for rehabilitation of small dams so that villagers have access to irrigation water.
Online Reporter