The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
THE political leadership rely on traditional leaders for the mobilisation of the electorate because they are the pillar around which communities rally, says a senior Zimbabwe National Army officer.
Speaking at a Traditional Leaders’ Day Commemorations at Headquarters 3 Infantry Battalion recently, Chief of Staff Quartermaster Staff, Major-General Sibusiso Moyo, said: “Culture helps us to understand our ancestral values, gives us meaning of life and ultimately gives us strength to safeguard the future generations.
“Chiefs, as you are all aware, are the custodians of our culture. Resultantly, during the liberation war, the colonialists deliberately attacked the traditional institutions in order to weaken the societal fabric, hence our current position is to fight for the strengthening of our traditional institutions where traditional leaders will be recognised with honour.”
He added: “The deliberate attack on traditional institutions resulted in usurping of traditional leaders’ powers while further dividing and weakening the community.” Maj-Gen Moyo said except as provided in an Act of Parliament, traditional leaders have authority, jurisdiction and control over communal lands.
“The same Constitution asserts that in the performance of their duties as traditional leaders, they are not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority, except as may be prescribed in an Act of Parliament,” he said.
Maj-Gen Moyo said traditional leaders deserved better treatment by improving their conditions of service and allowing them governance space in order to retain their status.
“As we continue to interact, we should remain focused and alert since our adversaries are busy scheming, lest we risk losing all that the current Government has achieved. “We should jealously guard against ideas of regime change agenda penetrating our system,” he said.
Maj-Gen Moyo said Zimbabweans should not lose sight of the fact that the former colonisers had not shown any signs of repentance or reconciliation despite initiatives by President Mugabe, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“In its endeavour to consolidate the gains of the land reform programme, Government has introduced Command Agriculture which happens to be a fitting programme attributed to our unwavering commitment during the First, Second and Third Chimurenga.”
