Zimbabwe Christian Alliance

Village heads lament limitation of Traditional leaders Act

Village heads lament limitations of Traditional Leaders Act

Village heads across Matabeleland North and South have lamented that the Traditional Leaders Act is silent on critical issues and limits their governance authority in their respective areas. They say this restricts their power and prevents them from making urgent decisions.

This was revealed during a synergy-building workshop between traditional leaders and local authorities, curated by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance. The workshop aimed to strengthen the relationship and collaboration between the two institutions for community development.

One village head from Ntepe said their office is sometimes not given the respect it deserves, as villagers underestimate their leadership and authority.

“We often try to handle cases and reprimand trouble-causers in the community, but all we get is backlash. Our hands are tied when it comes to solving issues locally before escalating them to the Headman or Chief,” said Mr. Benjamin Ncube.

Village head Ncube also noted that they are still waiting for the amended Traditional Leaders Act, which has been in the pipeline for years.

“We are still using the old Act, even though an amendment was made some years back. Till now, we don’t know what happened or what the holdup is,” he said.

Recently, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, announced that the Traditional Leadership Bill was under review. The Chiefs attended a writeshop in Harare, which aimed to define clear roles for traditional leaders, among other issues.

“Minister of Local Government, Hon. Daniel Garwe, today opened a pivotal writeshop on the Traditional Leadership Bill at the Harare International Conference Centre. Key aims of the writeshop include strengthening cultural heritage and governance, defining clear roles for traditional leaders, as well as incorporating rural development, climate resilience and accountability,” he posted on his X account.

Another issue raised during the synergy-building workshop was the communication and protocol gap between traditional leadership and local authorities. Both institutions called for more clarity and training on their distinct roles.

“Local authorities must know they cannot call meetings in our villages without consulting or informing us. We are the custodians of these villages and have every right to know about matters concerning our communities,” said a headman from Izimnyama in Mangwe, Plumtree.

New Bishop for Lutheran Church

By Rumbidzai Mbewe

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Bishop Dr. Michael Dube

A historic and celebratory service at the Lutheran Church in Njube saw the installation of the fifth presiding Bishop in the Lutheran Church, Bishop Dr. Michael Dube. Held this month as we mark the birth of Christ, the event drew an overflow crowd of patrons who gathered to witness this momentous occasion for the church.

The office of the Bishop in the Lutheran Church is done in a rotational process from the three dioceses in the Lutheran Church. The Diocese of Western Zimbabwe of the Lutheran Church takes over from the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe.

In an interview, Rev Mbongeni Dube, said the event was successful and is one event that attracted a lot of attention. He said this event was remarkable as it was attended by representatives from different church denominations as well as politicians. Rev Dube said Bishop Dube has always been a visionary leader and the church was in good hands.

“ From his speech you can tell he has a vision for the church, the ecumenical work of the church and also the church being the prophetic voice in the public space. He will work to promote issues of justice in the church as well as women empowerment in the church,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches congratulated Bishop Dube in their press statement and stated that he has served the church and the wider Christian community with distinction, including his role in the ZCC supervisory council.

“ Through his service he has demonstrated sound judgement , humility and a deep commitment to the mission of the church in Zimbabwe,” read the statement.

Chiredzi women writing new stories of success

By Rumbidzai Mbewe

Loice inside her humble kitchen in Chiredzi.

In the Mukwasine compound of Chiredzi, the story of Loice is being told as a testament to powerful change. Just a year ago, she was known for her rowdy behaviour and unkempt appearance, a woman whose word was law at home, spoken out of fear rather than respect.

Today, that woman is a memory. After joining the Tinokunda Self Help Group, Loice has transformed into a new person. Her hair is now neatly styled, her clothes are clean and pressed, and she carries herself with a new sense of purpose.

Sharing her experience with The Christian Voice, Loice stated that the Self Help Group made her realise the importance of self-care and love. She said spending time with other women who have shared tips on how to maintain a healthy relationship with her husband and children was important.

“Nobody understood what was going on with me, but all the shabbiness and rowdy behaviour was due to the frustrations that come with poor living conditions and not being able to provide for your family,” she said.

She said that through the SHG, she is not only learning how to be a better person socially but also financially. Through the mukandos (Clubs) that we do, i have managed to save money to start my small project.

“My business is still small, but I am making profits. I sell tomatoes, and my kids do not sleep on an empty stomach. When you come back next time, you will find a different Loice with a much more vibrant business,” she said.

Loice is not the only one making new strides in Chiredzi. Yanayi Ganganwa, who runs an eatery at one of the busiest growth points, said she has seen her business grow. She started by buying and selling just one chicken at a time, reinvesting her daily profits to buy the next.

“Now the demand is so high that I buy a whole cow by borrowing funds from my group, The Achievers. If we did not have these money clubs, I wouldn’t be able to afford a cow with my sales alone. This growth is directly due to our savings. With such sales, I can buy my own grinding meal and start another business,” she said.

The impact of these savings scales from individual success to collective investment. The 17 groups in the area have accumulated collective savings ranging US$500 to US$2,500 from $1 savings every week. Forget Sande, a member of The Achievers, whose savings now stand at nearly US$1,900, confirmed the group's ambitious vision of acquiring assets that will bring more profits to the group.

One of the groups during their club sessions

“Our group savings are now at US$1,900, and we are now looking at having bigger investments. We are planning on acquiring land where we can plant cash crops and continue to boost our money as a group, besides our weekly savings,” she said.

These Self-Help Groups are proving to be a powerful engine for change, turning tales of despair into stories of a brighter future. They are also a testimony of personal healing to community prosperity.