has created three new chieftainships in Chiredzi after upgrading some sub-chiefs in a move tailored to improve the administration of local governance issues in the area.
This follows a proclamation he made on 26 June 2021, upgrading three headmen from Chiredzi South, namely Chilonga, Gezani and Mpapa to the position of substantive chiefs.
The development was announced by Chiredzi District Development Coordinator Lovemore Chisema during the ceremonial burial of the late Chief Tshovani at Chizvirizvi Resettlement area in Chiredzi two weeks ago.
Speaking to Masvingo Mirror, Chisema said the three headmen were upgraded because they submitted their application to Local governance petitioning that they were once chiefs before the Colonial era so their chieftainship was resuscitated. Said Chisema:
I am pleased to inform you that the President, Cde ED Mnangagwa has in terms of Section 3 (1) subsection 2(a) of Traditional Headman Act Chapter 29(12) approved the establishment of Chilonga, Gezani and Mupapa chieftainships with effect from 26 June 2021.
Chiredzi had four chiefs before this latest development after Mnangagwa resuscitated the Neromwe chieftainship in 2018. Other chiefs are Sengwe, Tshovani and Gudo.
The elevation of the four headmen to chief will have financial constraints on the State purse as the new chiefs’ conditions of work include having vehicles and allowances.
ZANU PF has been accused of using chiefs as “vote banks” in national elections and this happens with just 24 months left to go to the next general elections in 2023.