Massive turn out of national chiefs’ conference
Thokozile Mbedzi
Traditional leaders from across the country recently met with President Mnangagwa in Bulawayo to share notes and areas of mutual interests.
These include the chiefs and headmen who gather at Zimbabwe Trade Fair between 13 to the 15 of March.
Speaking during the highly subscribed meeting, the Head of State said, “This is a great platform where we engage the traditional leaders.
“The chiefs and headmen here are very important together with the kraal heads and all the cultural leaders”.
He said traditional leaders play a key role in culture preservation and enhancing social cohesion at the community level.
The President said currently the world and the country were grappling with the effects of climate change.
He said to adapt and minimise these, Government was looking forward to constructing more dams and supporting various agricultural development initiatives.
“This will help us as a nation to achieve our set goals and targets including supporting the lsiphala seNkosi concept which is an important tool to ensure food and nutrition security.
“So, we will empower the traditional leaders with farming equipment and implements including tractors to drive production,” he said.
Beitbridge West’s traditional leader Chief Tshithaudze said he was grateful for the President’s assurance to address their challenges.
“We have many projects which are giving us sleepless nights as leaders and they need to be addressed and the words from the President area encouraging,” he said.
“The broken Siyoka bridge is one major project that we need to see being fixed urgently and we hope with his intervention, there will be progress.
“The President also said he will spearhead the construction of dams. This is very important to us because our area is too dry and communities need to be empowered such that they can grow different types of crops every season”.
Chief Matibe of Beitbridge East said he appreciated the gesture by the President to consistently meet with traditional leaders.
He said they had managed to advise him on a number of issues and how best they could address community development related issues.
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