Batsiranayi Ngugama
Malipati – Chief Sengwe installed Paulos Mukachana to be headman Ngwengeni at a colourful ceremony which was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life including District Administrator for Chiredzi Clara Muzenda, legislator for the area Calisto Gwanetsa.
Mrs Muzenda who read Local Government and Rural Development Minister’s speech said the installation was very important in any society.
“The headman is chief of defence in an area. If there is no headman obviously that area will lack development.
The headman according to Chapter 29 section 9 should be a custodian of culture. The chief should report every incident in his area to police.
“She went on to state that Ngwenyeni chieftainship once installed was substantive and started in 1944. In 1974, Cainos Mukachana was installed and died in 2009 paving way for nephew David Simbi to momentarily rule from 2011 to 2013 while waiting for Paulos Mukachana who was working in South Africa to return and takeover” she explained.
Chief Sengwe asked the villagers to work hand in hand with the headman.
“You should desist from reporting cases to police and tell chiefs to settle them. Many rulers have emerged in our societies, but President Robert Mugabe gave chiefs powers to rule.
“Where will we get names to fill our books if people run to police. For your information we fall under the Judiciary so we must rule” said the paramount chief.
On another case, the chief called for Zesa to speed up the rural electrification programme for development to improve.
“We want our area to improve so that our work as chiefs becomes easy. They should light up lights at Malipati high school which the only government boarding school in the area” he said.
MP for the area retired Brigadier Calisto Gwanetsa said the installation was a unique function and comes once in a lifetime.
“All of us have got something and it was a unique ceremony. The installation is important as it makes channels of communication easier.
“The government of President Robert Mugabe is well behind customary laws and prosperity of areas. President Mugabe has seen it fit and is fully behind chiefs.
“In terms of development, I foresee a bright future for Chiredzi South Constituency. We need to work with our DA and all stakeholders utilizing our resources available.
“The government of His Excellence President Mugabe has opened two more satellite schools in trying to reduce distance traveled by our children to school” said Gwanetsa.
