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The Herald, 10 September 1983
IN a mini plebiscite on Thursday in the disputed Chamburukira area of Bikita, 200km south-east of here, the administration of the area has gone back to Zaka district.
The plebiscite was conducted by the Deputy Prime Minister, Cde Simon Muzenda, and of the 127 headmen in the area consulted, 79 chose to be under Zaka, while 48 wanted Bikita.
As the Deputy Prime Minister announced his decision, the two hostile camps that attended the meeting cheered and grumbled, respectively.
The dispute between the two parties, the Vahove and Mabika people, dates back to pre-20th Century rivalries and was aggravated by arbitrary border changes by the colonial government in 1908.
It broke out again earlier this year and a police support unit sent to quell violence was driven off by arrows and spears.
At Thursday’s meeting, Cde Muzenda attacked the petty differences and selfishness of people in the area that had “held development in the area to ransom”.
“Soon development units will be moving to the area and anyone who hinders their progress will be arrested.”
Drought relief and law enforcement agencies could now freely come to the area, irrespective of whether they were coming from Zaka or Bikita.
The Minister of Local Government and Town Planning, Cde Enos Chikowore, warned the district administration of Bikita and Zaka not to meddle in tribal issues as they had done before.
He said their taking sides in the issue had fuelled the conflict to a dangerous point. He publicly warned the Bikita district administrator not to do it again.
The meeting was attended by the Victoria under-secretary for development in the Ministry of local Government and Town Planning, Cde Efison Munjanganja, and Zanu (PF) officials.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The artificial boundaries created by colonialists can lead to emotive issues that in some cases can turn into bloody conflicts. The quick intervention by senior Government officials has averted tragedies.
It is unfortunate that people who for centuries have been related through marriage and/or totems, would end up fighting for spaces and boundaries.
When there are contestations of boundaries and spaces, it seriously affects the districts’ growth and development.
Rural district councils are governed by an Act of Parliament: The Rural District Councils Act Chapter 29:13 (Acts 8/1988, 18/1989 (s. 45), 11/1991 (s. 31), 3/1992, 15/1994 (s. 25), 21/1997, 23/1998,25/1998, 22/2001,13/2002.)
In terms of governance, rural districts are also under the leadership of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. This means that they are entitled to development funds from Treasury’s devolution funds.
The introduction of devolution funds by the Second Republic is witnessing a big uptake of developmental projects by locals in every district. The CEOs of the districts are working hard to ensure the prominence and visibility of their districts on the national map.
2019 saw the Bikita District local authority winning a number of awards with its chief executive being named CEO of the Year for the second year running during the Megafest Local Governance Awards.
Online Reporter