Online ReporterThupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
MR PILATE MULEYA was officially installed as the substantive Headman Siyoka on Friday at a ceremony held at Bgemula Village in the Gwanda Tshitaudze area.
His installation ceremony was attended by a huge crowd, including traditional leaders, Government officials, and community members from across Beitbridge District.
The installation comes 15 years after the death of the last substantive headman, Likavha Muleya, Pilate’s father, who had taken over from his own father, Tomani.
Beitbridge District has two Chiefs, Chief Matibe on the east and Chief Tshitaudze on the west, presiding over 10 headmen and nearly 500 village heads.
Speaking during the installation ceremony, Chief Tshitaudze, who led the proceedings, described the event as a historic moment and urged the new leader to champion development and culture.
The Siyoka headmanship dates back to the 1940s, with leadership being passed on from father to son, which is customary in Matabeleland.
Chief Tshitaudze welcomed Pilate and outlined his expectations as well as how the succession will continue.
“Today, we welcome the new incumbent. We say welcome to team Tshitaudze, where we speak of hard work as we preserve our culture and advocate for meaningful development for our area,” Chief Tshitaudze said.
“The succession custom is from father to son, just like the majority from Matabeleland Region. It then follows that after Pilate’s reign, his son will take over. In vernacular, we say Khosi ikhobebiwa.
“As you may remember, ladies and gentlemen, Likavha passed away 15 years ago and since then, there has been no substantive headman, hence this installation is a joyous and welcome development to the community of Bgemula and Beitbridge at large.”
He also tasked Headman Siyoka with leading the implementation of the “Not In My Village” campaign that is being led by the National Aids Council on behalf of the Government to curb child pregnancies, child abuse, and gender-based violence.
Currently, Beitbridge district is ranked among the top districts in the country with high rates of child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
Chief Tshitaudze highlighted that the area has nine primary schools and two secondary schools, with Siyoka High School selected to receive materials for a science laboratory under the national independence development programme.
He called for more secondary schools to promote STEM subjects.
“Health services remain a challenge, with only Majini and Chamnangana clinics serving the area. Long distances to health facilities remain “a nightmare,” he said.
Chief Tshitaudze also mentioned that the NIMV concept introduced by the Government through NAC seeks to address the social ills in which the headman must supervise his village heads to curb child pregnancies, child abuse and sexual and domestic violence.
He said the aim was to create a conducive environment for everyone to live in harmony, participate in development for the betterment of the life of the girl child, enforcing all environmental conservation and planning laws, including local field boundaries, on behalf of the Chief, the Rural District Council and the State.
“A Headman must work hand in glove with government agencies, NGOs, and the local authority to drive development in education, health, agriculture, business, communication, and water provision,” he emphasised.
