CLIVE THABO DUBE AND CHANTEL TAKUDZWA ZAMBUKIRA
MATABELELAND traditional leaders are gathered in Bulawayo for the two day National Chiefs Council conference to deliberate with the Government on matters effecting their spheres of influence.
The on going conference is being held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Exhibition Center, runs under the theme “Firm Cultural Foundation for Communication”
It is during this Indaba that the traditional leaders raised issues of concern on water crisis, shortages of health facilities in their regions.
However, the major outcry by the Chiefs was the provision of luxurious motor-vehicles and United States dollar allowances.
One of the chiefs said the traditional leaders were last given cars during the 2018 election period. Now, the country is in another election season, there is clamoring of such benefits, which leaves one wondering if such luxuries are more important than development of the region.
“There is need for new cars for Chiefs in Matebeleland North. The ones that we got in 2017 were damaged by bad roads therefore some of the Chiefs you are seeing here no longer have cars to move them from one point to the other,” said Matabeleland North Chief Mathupala who was representing Chief Mtshane.
Ironically, the same traditional leaders claim that the previous government allocated cars are no longer road worthy due to bad roads, but same leaders are not advocating loudly the rehabilitation of the Matabeleland road network which is in a serious bad shape.
“There is need for the increment of Forex salaries for Chiefs and Village heads. Our medical AID from PSMAS and funeral cover needs to be discussed so that we know we are safe,” he added.
In addition to self enrichment which was specific by the Matabeleland North Chief Mathupala, almost all the chiefs were complaining about the same issues which they said had to be addressed by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo, the President and the President of Chiefs’ Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira.
These problems include:
Water supply; almost all chiefs were asking either for the completion of the Gwayi/Shangani Dam project to be completed or to have a new structures for borehole as there is no water.
“In Matabeleland South we would like to ask for the government to recognise this region as an irrigation region than to wait for the rains for agriculture. We need boreholes as the dams are not filled by the rainy water. Therefore there is is always drought in Matabeleland South,” said Chief Masenda.
He went on to mention that there is need for the construction of more High Schools and Vocational Centers in his region as many children are dropping out due to shortage of institutions.
“There are no schools in Matabeleland South. Children are dropping out of school as they have to walk (15 km) fifteen kilometers to reach a school and back. There is also need for Vocational Training Centers in Matabeleland South to curb drug and substance abuse.”
The issue of bad road network was also mentioned by many as they were lamenting the state of roads that links them to the big cities for example Bulawayo -Tsholotsho road and Bulawayo -Victoria falls road.
The Chiefs were presenting a plethora of issues affecting their jurisdictions at a Chiefs’ Council Indaba to the President which ends tomorrow March 16.