The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
Four traditional leaders in Manicaland are on cloud nine after receiving all terrain vehicles from President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday.
The four include Chiefs Chikukwa and Ngorima (Chimanimani District), as well as Chiefs Chimombe and Nerutanga (Buhera District).
The President handed over a total of 18 double-cab vehicles to chiefs drawn from Manicaland, Mashonaland Central and Masvingo.
So far, 25 chiefs from Manicaland have benefited from the on-going programme to ensure that all chiefs are mobile.
Handing over the vehicles soon after unveiling Mbuya Nehanda’s statue in Harare, President Mnangagwa said as Zimbabweans we should be proud of our culture.
“Every person has a rural home where they come from. All these Government ministers have a rural home where there are traditional leaders. We respect our traditional leaders.
“Westerners would say Africans are united, they have their own culture, for us to have dominion over them let us strip them of their culture and impose our culture. That way we will have dominance over them.
“That is why we are commemorating Mbuya Nehanda. We have got our own cultures whose custodians are traditional leaders. We should preach the gospel of peace for the good of the country,” said President Mnangagwa.
Interviewed chiefs expressed gratitude on Government’s gesture.
Zimbabwe Chiefs’ Council Manicaland chairman, Chief Makumbe, hailed President Mnangagwa’s administration of walking the talk on empowering traditional leaders.
“As Manicaland chiefs, we are very excited to be recognised by the national leadership. We now have 25 chiefs who have taken delivery of their vehicles. We were also touched by President Mnangagwa’s gesture to honour Chief Nerutanga posthumously by allocating a vehicle to his family.
“The allocation of the vehicles will help the chiefs to discharge their duties efficiently and diligently. As traditional leaders, we have a lot of duties and being mobile will make our work much easier. We will also retain respect from our subjects as some of us were being degraded in public transport,” said Chief Makumbe.
The chief also hailed Government for erecting Mbuya Nehanda’s statue in Harare, saying the move will go a long way in upholding the country’s cultural values.
“The statue is an honour to us traditional leaders as the custodians of the land. Mbuya Nehanda is a symbol of Zimbabweans’ resistance to colonial rule and by respecting her, the Government has also respected traditional leaders as we played a crucial role in waging the country’s liberation struggle,” said Chief Makumbe.
Acting Chief Nerutanga also expressed his gratitude.
“As a family we are honoured to take delivery of this car. Although our father is late, we hail the Government for honouring him through this car. As chiefs, our stature has been restored as it was embarrassing to preside over someone’s case and then ask for them for a ride afterwards.
“These cars will also serve as ambulance and other related services in the communities as chiefs always have the people’s interests at heart. Whenever people face challenges, their first port of call is the chief’s residence and we will ensure that the cars will serve our respective communities. These are the people’s vehicles and they are free to approach us for any form of assistance,” said acting Chief Nerutanga.
Chief Chikukwa was all smiles.
“This vehicle will come handy in discharging my duties in the rugged terrain of Chimanimani as I will now be able to attend all important business without any hassles,” he said.
An elated Chief Chimombe echoed the same sentiments.
“I will no longer have any hassles in traveling to important meetings. Walking long distances was having a toll on my health, which is now a thing of the past,” he said.
Chief Ngorima also expressed his gratitude.
“We thank President Mnangagwa and the Government for recognising us. As traditional leaders we should be held in high esteem and Government has restored our dignity,” he said.
