Chombo attacks Biti

to purchase vehicles and build houses for chiefs in the country, instead preferring to buy vehicles for Members of the House of Assembly.

Speaking during the installation of 23-year-old Thursus Ncube as Chief Madlambudzi in Bulilima District’s Madlambudzi area, Matabeleland South, on Friday, Dr Chombo said chiefs, who last got vehicles from the Government in 2004, were equally important and deserved motor vehicles and houses befitting their status.

“It is important for our chiefs to get their vehicles and houses to suit their standards in the communities, but right now chiefs do not have vehicles because Minister Biti is not willing to give us the money to purchase the vehicles for the traditional leaders. He prefers to give motor vehicles to Members of Parliament and Senators yet chiefs are equally important leaders who have important roles to play in our communities,” said Dr Chombo.

“The chiefs, who include the President of the Chiefs’ Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, and his deputy, Chief Mtshane Khumalo, last received their vehicles about 10 years ago, most of which are off the road and need to be replaced.”

Dr Chombo said it was important for the traditional leaders to be given vehicles not only to befit their status but also to improve development in their areas.

“Chiefs are custodians of development in the rural areas but they cannot do much if they do not have vehicles to easily move from one place to the other to ensure that there is improvement in their communities and to maintain peace among their people.

“Minister Biti, however, prefers to support MPs and Senators but chiefs should also be paid more because they are getting peanuts,” said Dr Chombo.

He told hundreds of villagers who had gathered to witness the installation of Chief Madlambudzi that it was essential for them to respect him despite his age as he was installed to solve their problems.

“I would like to encourage villagers to respect Chief Madlambudzi, support and work with him for the sake of development. His age has got nothing to do with what he knows, as he leads the people through his advisors and is supported by his people. For the young chief to be a good leader, councillors, village heads, headmen and people in general should not be found refusing to be given duties by him.

“We do not want a situation whereby people challenge the chieftainship by rushing to the courts because they do not know much about our culture and values. All cases should be solved here and when problems arise, people have the right to contact the District and Provincial Administrators and the Governor to intervene,” said Dr Chombo.

He said it was the chief’s duty to make sure that people desist from cutting down trees and starting fires, which damage the environment and also ensure that his people benefit from the Community Share Ownership Trust (CSO/T).

He urged Chief Madlambudzi to make use of the Traditional Councillors’ Act in his work, before handing over to the new chief his new symbols of office, including the national flag.

The Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland South, Cde Angeline Masuku, congratulated Dr Chombo for installing Chief Madlambudzi without experiencing any problems. “I am happy because there were no hassles in installing Chief Madlambudzi. Today marks the development of Madlambudzi because an area with no chief is like a flock of sheep with no shepherd.

“Chiefs are important in the country as they promote our culture and values,” said Cde Masuku.

Colonialists disturbed the Madlambudzi chieftainship in 1947 after the then Chief Madlambudzi was arrested for being against the Rhodesian Government and the area was left under the leadership of Chief Manguba.

In 1966, Madzeke Ncube was installed as Headman Madlambudzi and he died in 1982. The chieftainship was officially handed over to his son Jesi Selas Ncube, who later died in 1999.

The Madlambudzi family then agreed that Selas Ncube’s younger brother, Patrick, be the new chief, as he did not have a child. Patrick Ncube was installed as Headman Madlambudzi in 2003, under Chief Mpini.

At that time Bulilima District had one chief and the Government decided to give back the chieftainship to the Madlambudzi family and Patrick Ncube was promoted to Chief Madlambudzi in 2007 before he died in 2010.

Headman Hingwe became the acting chief until the installation of Thursus Ncube, on behalf of his father, Mr Tea Ncube, who died in 2004 before he was officially installed as Chief Madlambudzi.

Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, Co-Minister in the Organ for National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, Queen Elisa Kata and Chief Tiago Buta from Angola, Government officials, traditional leaders and villagers, also graced the ceremony.