adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE family of the late Chief Mvuthu of Monde area, Hwange District is living in abject poverty, his widow and three children surviving on food handouts from villagers. Chief Mvuthu, born Nyangayezizwe Mlotshwa died on March 10, last year aged 61. He is survived by his 47-year-old wife, Epiphaniah, three children aged 20, nine and seven and his mother Emma Tshabangu aged 90.
At the time of his death, Chief Mvuthu was one of the senior traditional leaders in the province, chairing the Hwange Community Share Ownership Scheme and was a Hwange Colliery Company retiree after leaving work on June 7, 2008 to take over the chieftaincy. The condition at the late chief’s kraal has become the talk of Victoria Falls town and the whole district as it has been discussed on different fora. Hwange Rural District councillors raised the issue at one of their meetings following concerns by villagers.
Acting Chief Mvuthu, Bishop Sibanda confirmed that villagers have been helping the family.
“We’ve talked about it as villagers and we agreed to donate food from each homestead, which we handed to the family. The problem is that chiefs are not given a salary but get allowances which are stopped upon death of the incumbent,” he said.
The widow of the late chief Mvuthu said she sometimes sells sausages and fish to fend for her family.
“We were told that laws have changed and we only got $100 when he died in March. I sometimes order some sausages and fish for resale but that is not sustainable because we end up spending all the money. Recently Wild Horizons came and gave us some food while villagers also mobilised 10 bags of maize which we have been eating otherwise all along things have been tough for us,” she said.
“My worry is that our crops failed and we’ll be a burden to villagers who also are not going to harvest anything because of the poor rains. We really appreciate everything villagers have done for us.”
Her daughter Silibaziso — who has five O-Level passes and six points at A-Level- said she has been trying unsuccessfully to get a part time job to help sustain the family.
“Villagers gave us some maize and we really appreciate that. We rely on their benevolence. Most of the time, we don’t know what we would eat the next day. My siblings have to go to school while our grandmother also has to be taken care of. I wish I could get a job to help them,” she said.
Hwange District Administrator Tapera Mugoriya said:
“As you know the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing takes care of chiefs through allowances which cease upon death of the incumbent.”
Villagers have expressed concern over lack of social responsibility by tour operators who are domiciled in Chief Mvuthu’s area.
Some also questioned government’s commitment to the welfare of traditional leaders, suggesting a need for empowerment projects for chiefs which their families could rely on in the event of death.
Chiefs are given allowances of $300 per month.
Victoria Falls residents this week posted comments about the developments on a local online newsletter “Vic Falls News” after a visit to the kraal.
Victoria Falls business community is now mobilising food to give to the family and also trying to secure a job for Silibaziso.
“Barely a year after the passing of Chief Mvuthu, it has been noted by concerned members of the community that his family is living in abject poverty and surviving on handouts. The Chief left behind his aged mother, wife and three children and we would like to appeal to the community of Victoria Falls to try to assist the family in any way possible.
“We all came together as a community last year to give our chief a decent farewell and it would be great if we could remember his family on the anniversary of his death. Well-wishers may contact 0712384924 so we can co-ordinate some assistance for the family,” reads part of the online item.
Online Reporter