By Rex Mphisa
TRADITIONAL leaders who include Chiefs, Headmen and Village Heads are integral arms of rural development and must be fully incooperated into leadership structures, Matabeleland South Minister Of State For Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe has said.
In an update of his activities in Beitbridge East, where he is parliamentarian, Nguluvhe said he went on a feedback to Tshitulifhasi and Tshabili where he addressed villagers on the importance of having traditional leaders aboard leadership structures.
He also took the opportunity to continue his self-funded chicken pass-on projected where for the last two years he has distributed fowls to rural communities in his vast constituency.
“He also sensitised tye villagers about CAB 3 programme and its importance,” said the update on his social media channel.
“The engagement focused particularly on the inclusion and recognition of traditional leadership structures, especially chiefs, as key stakeholders in community development, governance, and the successful implementation of government programmes. Nguluvhe emphasised that traditional leaders play a critical role in preserving cultural values, fostering unity, mobilizing communities, and ensuring that development initiatives reach grassroots communities effectively,” the update reported.
In his constituency some programmes like “Not In My Village” where traditional leaders and the National Aid Council of Zimbabwe lead, there are positive signs against child sexual activities, rape, dropping out of schools and child marriages that have been synonymous with Beitbridge East.
A programme led by Chief Matibe and his headmen and village heads is paying dividends with close to 80 children school dropouts having been traced and re-enrolled for education while youths are engaged in small self-empowerment schemes which have kept mischief and petty crime at bay.
On CAB3, he said it promotes inclusive development, accountability, social cohesion, and community-driven economic empowerment initiatives aimed at improving rural livelihoods, said the update.
“He further encouraged communities to embrace the programme as a platform for identifying local challenges, promoting unity, and accelerating socio-economic transformation at ward and village level. Residents were urged to actively participate in development programmes and work closely with both government and traditional leadership structures to ensure sustainable progress within Beitbridge East Constituency.”
A total of 250 chicks were distributed to beneficiaries from Tshitulifhasi and Chabili communities under the programme.
The beneficiaries included war veterans, widows of war veterans, the elderly, women, and youths, with particular emphasis placed on empowering youths through sustainable income-generating projects.
The initiative seeks to equip beneficiaries with practical economic opportunities while promoting self-reliance, nutrition, and poverty reduction at household level.