President hosts Annual Chiefs Conference

President hosts Annual Chiefs Conference

 

Hosia Mviringi

 

 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in Bulawayo ahead of the 2023 Annual Chiefs’ Conference which kicked off this morning at the ZITF Grounds.

 

 

Upon his arrival in the City of Kings and Queens yesterday morning, the President didn’t waste time as he called for calm, peace and tolerance ahead of this year’s harmonised general elections.

 

 

Addressing hoards of supporters who thronged Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo International Airport, the President thanked the people of Matebeleland for conducting themselves peacefully so far even as the ZANU PF party conducts its primary election this weekend, which obviously means a lot of campaigning and jockeying for position in an internal democratic process.

 

 

“I feel very humbled by your coming to receive me. We are going for our harmonised general elections. I am very happy that so far I am told by your Provincial Chairman (Jabulani Sibanda) that everything is going on very peacefully. That is very important for us. We don’t want violence. We must act peacefully all the time because we are headed for a resounding victory,” said the President.

 

 

This year’s edition of the Annual Chiefs’ Conference could not have come at a more appropriate opportunity as the President is expected to use the opportunity to hammer home the message of peace and tolerance among citizens as the country enters yet another high adrenalin season during which emotions sometimes run high.

 

 

This year’s Annual Chiefs’ Conference is unique in that for the very first time it brings together 500 Headmen from across the country and 250 Chiefs, all under one roof where among things the issue of welfare of traditional leaders will be topical. Therefore it is hoped that the President will meet the nation’s custodians of culture and tradition at their very point of need during deliberations.

 

 

It thus becomes very important that the Chiefs and Headmen carry home the message of peaceful coexistence and tolerance of divergent views. Many a times the President has used such fora to advocate for forgiveness, tolerance and the need to embrace one another as a way to heal wounds of the past and forge a path for a prosperous future. Unity and peace are such important ingredients to a nation’s prosperity and as such one can never tire in preaching.