Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
MR Pilate Muleya has been officially installed as the substantive Headman Siyoka during a ceremony held at Bgemula Village in the Gwanda Tshitaudze area.
Scores of people including traditional leaders, Government officials, and community members from across Beitbridge district attended the installation event on Friday.
The installation ends a 15-year period without a substantive Headman following the death of 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 all presiding over 10 headsmen 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 succession following the custom of father to son, common in Matabeleland.
Chief Tshitaudze said Pilate’s reign will be followed by his son, in line with the principle “Khosi ikhobebiwa/a chief is born into leadership”.
“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 was no substantive headman, hence this installation is a joyous and welcome development to the community of Bgemula and Beitbridge at large.”
Chief Tshitaudze 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 villages heads to curb child pregnancies, child abuse and sexual gender and domestics 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.
“It is my hope and wish that Headman Siyoka will always make himself available, accessible, and accommodative to his people. The headman needs to be respected and not feared.”
Chief Tshitaudze also made a heartfelt plea to village heads to join forces in combating the rampant cutting down of trees by firewood syndicates in the district
The trees, he added, were not just a resource, but a vital part of the ecosystem and a source of livelihood for communities.
The traditional leader expressed concern over the environmental impact and depletion of pastures, exacerbating climate change and drought effects.
“We are very worried about this practice where people come from Beitbridge town and cut fresh trees in the villages,” he said.
“What is worrying is that this is happening under the watch of village heads. It’s high time we stand up as community leaders and stop this destructive behaviour.
“We are livestock farmers and environmentally conscious people; we can’t let this go on forever. Let’s work together as traditional leaders and collaborate with line stakeholders. Where a culprit is caught let’s make them pay heavy fines.”
He also pleaded for support from both the Beitbridge RDC and Municipality of Beitbridge in stopping the cutting of trees and illegal firewood sales.
Chief Tshitaudze also condemned the ongoing environmental degradation that is reigning supreme uncontrolled in some sections of the district.
