TRADITIONAL leaders will no longer have to pay transport fares on all Zupco buses across the country, Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga told mourners at the homestead of the late Chief Nhlamba in Gwanda yesterday.
Chief Nhlamba, who died last weekend after a long illness
at the age of 75, was granted a State-assisted burial and will be laid to rest
at his rural home in Garanyemba today.
Born Dennis Ndlovu, Chief Nhlamba was installed on July 16,
2010 and had served the traditional leadership institution for 12 years.
Responding to a passionate plea on the welfare of
traditional leaders made by Headman Dubane at the late Chief Nhlamba’s
homestead, Dr Chiwenga said traditional leaders were the custodians of the land
and should be treated with respect.
“The good thing is that the Minister of Local Government
will be here tomorrow (today). I wish I would’ve also been around so that we
talk about it in his presence. Traditional leaders will not have to pay
transport fares on Zupco buses starting tomorrow (today). Our chiefs are the
custodians of our culture and owners of this soil,” said Dr Chiwenga.
Dr Chiwenga extended his condolences to the late Chief
Nhlamba’s family saying the traditional leader was development oriented.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent me to extend his heartfelt condolences to the
Nhlamba family, the community, the Matabeleland South province and the nation
at large on the untimely death of Chief Nhlamba. I wish also, on my own behalf,
to extend my deepest condolences to the Nhlamba family during this difficult
time. The late chief was keen to see Government programmes and projects
implemented in his area. For instance, he mobilised the community to
participate in the construction of Tuli-Manyange Dam in this area. In addition,
the chief was a member of the anti-stock theft unit,” said Dr Chiwenga.
“Under the Second Republic, His Excellency the President
has said no one and no place should be left behind. This is why you see there
is rushed development in all the regions which had been left behind for so many
years, particularly region four and five around the country. Tuli-Manyange was
not only going to provide water in Matabeleland South but water was also going
to be sold to neighbouring Botswana. That would bring a lot of development in
this area.”
When the Vice-President announced that chiefs will not pay
Zupco when travelling, Headman Dubane had raised concerns that private
transport operators do not require traditional leaders to pay bus fares but the
parastatal was demanding that they pay.
“We’re optimistic that all that we’ve been promised will
come. We’re lucky to have the Vice-President in our midst and we can highlight
our challenges such as that of Zupco demanding that traditional leaders pay
transport fares. Green Horse and other private transport operators don’t demand
transport fares from us, unlike Zupco,” said Headman Dubane.
The late Chief Nhlamba’s young brother, Mr Jeffrey Ndlovu
expressed gratitude to Dr Chiwenga and President Mnangagwa saying the family
was grateful for the support rendered during its dark hour.
“We didn’t expect this gift and couldn’t have managed the
expenses by ourselves. May God continue to lead you. Thank you very much. We
also want to thank the Vice-President for consoling us,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Last year, President Mnangagwa handed over vehicles to some
traditional leaders as part of Government’s ongoing programme to ensure chiefs
are mobile and to restore their dignity.
Government recently announced a package for chiefs that
will see them getting foreign currency allowances, medical aid, monthly fuel
coupons and air time for ease of communication. Chronicle
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