Chiefs president, vice retained

Harare Bureau
Chief Fortune Charumbira and his deputy Chief Mtshane Khumalo have been re-elected unopposed as president and vice-president of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, positions that automatically make them Senators. The election was conducted by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials yesterday at Mkwati Building in Harare ahead of the harmonised elections on 31 July.

The election involved the nomination of candidates to contest the presidency but Chief Charumbira and his Chief Khumalo did not go to the second round because they were overwhelmingly endorsed by the electoral college of 35 chiefs drawn from the country’s provinces.

Chief Charumbira was nominated by 34 chiefs against one for Chief Zvimba while Chief Mtshane received 33 nominations against two for Chief Norbert Musarurwa.

To go to the second round, each of the nominees was supposed to have garnered two or more nominations.

Chief Musarurwa declined the nomination, saying he was not interested in contesting Chief Mtshane while Chief Zvimba failed to meet the requirement to enter the contest.

Presiding officer Mr Japhet Murenje declared Chief Charumbira and Chief Khumalo duly elected after going through the nomination process only.
Mr Murenje said the two chiefs would be sworn in as Senators together with other senators after the July 31 poll.

Chief Charumbira thanked his colleagues for showing confidence in his leadership.
“This election is a harbinger of a successful 31 July poll. Thank you Zec for the good organisation of this election,” he said.

He said the election was done without the inducement of voters as opposed to what politicians do.
“The chiefs have shown they are different from politicians. No bribes were involved. What we see in the rural areas is a fast food campaign by some politicians. They are slaughtering cattle to bribe people. Some are giving out sugar, salt and other perishables.

“What we want is real development that benefits people. We have been elected to achieve development for the people,” he said.
He assured the chiefs that the power they had vested in him would not get to his head.

Zec commissioner Dr Petty Makoni urged the Chiefs’ Council to spearhead peace, good governance and to always preach peace ahead of the elections.

“I urge you to always talk peace to the people that you lead,” she said.
The election of the presidency of the Chiefs’ Council follows the special voting by security forces and Zec officials who would be on duty during normal polling on 31 July.

Elections of provincial representatives to the Senate will be held on 3 August together with that of the two national representatives of people living with disabilities.