adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The new headman Tshikwelengwe (Azwiambiwi Ndou 54) of Beitbridge East constituency under Chief Matibe was installed last Friday at a colourful ceremony held at Lukange area, about 60km outside the border town.
The area has been without a substantive headman for the past 17 years following the death of Azwiambiwi’s father, Chenjerai Ndou in February 2010.
There are 18 villages under Headman Tshikwelengwe.
Scores of people from across Beitbridge and Limpopo province (South Africa) gathered at the Tshikwelengwe homestead to witness the ceremony, which was preceded over by Chief Matibe.
Beitbridge district has two chiefs and 10 headmen, though two posts are still vacant.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Matibe said the Tshikwelengwe headmanship followed the primogeniture custom where the first son of the substantive headman takes over after his father’s death.
“As traditional leaders, we are grateful that Government respects and attaches great importance to the institution of headman, not only as custodians of our tradition and culture, but also as an influential development endeavour,” he said.
“In other words, Government expects and encourages headmen to actively participate in developmental issues within their areas of jurisdiction.
“Headmen are expected to closely work with local authorities and agencies in promoting sustainable development to uplift people’s way of life.
“It is pleasing to note that headmen, in collaboration with other partners have made commendable strides in the provision of infrastructure in the sphere of health, education, water and sanitation in Beitbridge district.
“I would like to urge the new headman to work closely with his village heads and the chief to spearhead development projects under his area of jurisdiction”.
Speaking during the same ceremony, Beitbridge District Administrator Mrs Kiliboni Ndou-Mbedzi said they were working with families of various traditional leaders to fill up all vacant headmen posts and more than 200 village heads posts.
In an interview soon after his installation, Headman Tshikwelengwe said his immediate task was the construction of a new primary school in Lukange area to reduce the distance children travelled to access the nearest school.
“We have a shortage of boreholes in this areas and poor mobile, radio and television communication services which also need urgent attention,” he said.
“It is important that development agencies and the community implement projects in order of priority based on continuous consultations.”
Online Reporter