President Mnangagwa assures traditional leaders

President Mnangagwa assures traditional leaders

Hosia Mviringi

Traditional leaders, as cultural custodians, have a crucial role in nation building and will not be left behind as the country pursues its development goals.
These were the words of President Mnangagwa as he recommitted his government’s continued and enhanced support to traditional leaders in his inaugural interactive sessions with the Chiefs, reiterating one of his key traits as a listening leader.
“Makataura ndikateerera. Nyika ndeyenyu Madzimambo. Naizvozvo inovakwa nevene vayo. Hapana anosara mukuvaka nyika yedu. Ndichange ndichikuudzai apo neapo zvandinoita pamwe chete nebato renyu re ZANU PF munyika yenyu. Ndini President ED Mnangagwa,” said President Mnangagwa.
Loosely translated, “You spoke, and I listened. The country is yours, the Chiefs. As such the country is built by its owners. No one will be left behind. I will be updating you along the way on the programs we will be undertaking together with your party ZANU PF in your country.”
President Mnangagwa’s recent commitment to honour traditional leaders is in tandem with his tacit recognition of their role as a subsidiary of central government in local governance.

Traditional leaders play a critical role in peace building initiatives which are key in national coherence, on its own a key determinant of national stability and development.
President Mnangagwa, since ascending to power in 2018, routinely engaged traditional leaders through the Chiefs’ Council has in some instances seeking for their wisdom in finding progressive resolutions to topical national questions such as the Gukurahundi disturbances of the 1980s.
Empowerment of traditional leaders has become a priority as government recognises the importance of bringing the people together through their local traditional leadership.
To that end, Government has undertaken measures to improve the welfare of traditional leaders through such initiatives as a vehicle scheme, Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala seNkosi and recently through the Presidential borehole drilling scheme.