Chronicle Editor
Mkhululi Ncube, themkhust @gmail.com
THE death of Chief Kandana of Bulilima in Matabeleland South has been described as a huge loss to the district and the province as he was a fountain of knowledge and development-oriented.
Chief Kandana died after a short illness at Plumtree District Hospital on Saturday. He was 72 and had served for 17 years following his installation in 2007.
Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, was the first high-ranking Government official to visit the chief`s family to pay her respects on Sunday.
Fellow traditional leaders in the district have also expressed their grief and described the late Chief Kandana as a pillar of strength.
Chief Masendu said the death of the chief, born Michael Magutshwa, was hard to accept as they had not received news of his sickness.
“We worked well with him, he was a nobleman who stood for the truth all the time. It’s a big loss for us because he had a great team spirit. He was development-oriented and pushed a number of development programmes in the district and his area of jurisdiction,” he said.
“He represented us as chiefs for a long time at the Bulilima Rural District Council. We will miss him dearly,” said Chief Masendu.
Chief Hikwa said they worked well with the late chief from the days he was still a headman. She said Chief Kandana was a quiet figure with a great mind.
“He had this dignity in the way he carried himself. I was shocked to hear of his passing. I know the late chief as a quiet someone. He never had problems with anyone and you will never even hear rumours about him,” she said.
Chief Mphini said the late chief was easy going and dignified his operations.
“Umdala lived with people and he loved watching our youths playing soccer and will interact with them easily. He could accommodate both the young and the old in his work,” he said.
“But I want to stress that when it came to his office, he could be very tough because he respected his office very much.”
Bulilima Rural District Council chief Executive officer, Mr Billiat Mlauzi, said the late Chief Kandana knew how to handle conflicts both in his area of jurisdiction and in the council. He said the council has been left poorer without his fountain of wisdom.
“It’s a great loss to us as council because the late chief was very good at solving conflicts. He would do it in such a way that both parties will be left on good terms,” he said.
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu, who comes from Chief Kandana area, expressed shock over the loss.
“It’s a sad time not only for Bulilima District but the entire Matabeleland South province because Chief Kandana was one of the senior chiefs in the province. He is my local chief and was a jovial person and very respectful despite his position.
“He was involved in all developmental projects in his area. He would offer his homestead as a venue for development meetings and training programmes.
“At one point, I decided to solarise his borehole as a way of thanking him for his participation in the development of the area. When he stood to speak, he told the community that they should come and take water as the borehole was for the community. That speaks to the calibre of the man he was,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu said Chief Kandana always provided leadership when conflict arose in the village. He said he has been forced to postpone his travel outside the country on Government business so that he could attend the late chief’s burial, which has been tentatively set for Saturday. — @themkhust
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