adminElizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
Government is crafting legislation that will expand chiefs’ areas of jurisdiction to cover resettlement areas, a cabinet Minister has said. In an interview on the side-lines of the Heritage School National Quiz competition held at Cecil John Rhodes Primary School in Gweru on Friday, the Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, Cde Abedinico Ncube said the law will ensure that there is no conflict between chiefs, Rural District Councils and the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement in the allocation of land.
He said at present traditional Chiefs have jurisdiction over rural areas only.
“My Ministry is in the process of speeding up the crafting of legislation which will expand chiefs’ areas of juridisction to cover resettlement areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing primary school pupils and teachers that attended the quiz competition,
Cde Ncube said heritage educational programmes help shape children’s identity and promote positive national orientation.
He said the studies also help children to appreciate their culture.
“Heritage education and community museums guarantee the survival and promotion of minority cultures and social harmony between different communities, cultures, people and the environment in the country. Heritage education can help change children’s perception and knowledge about the importance of our norms, culture and values,” he said.
Cde Ncube said the Heritage Education Quiz for primary schools is the highlight of this year’s commemoration of International Museums Day that falls on May 18 every year.
He said the primary school quiz would go a long way in building pupils’ cultural consciousness.
Madyangove Primary School from Masvingo province won the quiz and walked away with $440 prize money.
Mount Mellaray Primary School from Manicaland and Cecil John Rhodes Primary School from the Midlands Province came second and third respectively.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo