By Margaret Kamba

There has been a lot of debate as to why His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa did not attend the United Nations General Assembly for this year. What makes matters worse about this debate is that, for lack of a better word, one foolish person scorned the fact that President Mnangagwa today hands over replacement vehicles to the traditional Chiefs.

I did not want to talk about the issue but my heart just could not give me peace. I cannot believe how a person in their right mind has no respect for Chiefs who are the custodians of our customs and societal values. It makes me question if this person is not Zimbabwean let alone African. 

This is where we have gone wrong as a people. We have denied who we are and rubbish literally everything that makes up who we are. If you do not subscribe to a particular culture, where are you from and where do you belong? We must contextualize ourselves as a people. I am born into my family first. That family resides in a community which is a particular country, period. There is nothing greater than that.

What in your mind tells you to erase all that and place yourself in a community or country that will either deny you any form of rights to be who you truly are or will simply give you citizenship out of whatever excuse you may want to give?

President Mnangagwa’s continued efforts to restore the dignity of the traditional leaders are upon the realization of these men and women as an integral part of our society.

Their role in the communities is very clear and whatever means to ensure their smooth execution of duties is availed will be done. Traditional leaders help in rural community development through stimulating participation in development programs. The traditional authority remains legitimate, and is a source of organization in the countryside.

“Given the role of our traditional leaders as custodians of our culture, traditions, history and heritage among other responsibilities, it is necessary that their dignity and conditions be of acceptable standards,” President Mnangagwa has said before.

“Besides being traditional leaders, chiefs are also public servants who are mandated by the Constitution of Zimbabwe to preside over their people, promote sound family values, resolve disputes and more importantly champion the promotion and preservation of our culture and heritage.”