Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces have provided inputs to all 30 chiefs in Mashonaland West Province to support the Zunde raMambo Programme.
The hampers, which included seed maize, sorghum, sunflower seed, fertilisers, blankets and foodstuffs, were donated with the support of partners including seed companies and other corporates.
Speaking at the Traditional Leaders Day commemoration in Kariba, the guest of honour, Chief of Staff Quarter Master Staff, Major General Simo Maseko, said the gesture was part of measures to promote food security.
“We are here to mark Traditional Leaders Day, but the major issue is that of eradicating hunger through supporting the Zunde raMambo programme,” said Major General Maseko. “We are distributing inputs to chiefs so that they can start their preparations for the Zunde raMambo Programme to eradicate hunger.”
By supporting the chiefs with inputs, he said, the ZDF was contributing towards food security in communities and the country at large.
Maj-Gen Maseko hailed the symbiotic and cordial relations between the traditional leaders and the army.
“Historically, chiefs had their armies, and they were our ears and eyes during the war of liberation,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the ZDF’s dedication to fostering peace, saying that Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and the citizenry needs to focus on development.
“Peace is guaranteed, and we would like the chiefs and the people to focus on development, living by what the President always says: leaving no one and no place behind.”
The Chiefs Council Mashonaland West provincial chairman, Chief Ngezi, said traditional leaders are the first buffer against hunger and should be capacitated.
“Traditional leaders are the first social welfare for communities and we commend what our children, our defence forces, have done to support the Zunde raMambo programme by providing inputs,” said Chief Ngezi. “Peace is difficult when people are hungry, and this gesture by our Defence Forces also helps in making their job easier.”
The host, Chief Msampakaruma, commended the establishment of Traditional Leaders Day.
“It is a day that reinforces the good working relationship we have with our children, the Defence Forces, and also helps us as traditional leaders to see that they value us as their leaders,” said Chief Msampakaruma.
Members of the community welcomed the opportunity to interact with the Defence Forces and traditional leaders, viewing it as a way of preserving their culture.
