Champion of rural development

Chief Zimema lifted livestock farming

Born: July 4 1958

Died: May 23 2017 Funeral: Tomorrow, at Qawukeni village, from 9am Burial: Great Place Cemetery at Qawukeni

The traditional leader of the Zulukama at Whittlesea, Eastern Cape, will be buried tomorrow.

Chief Xhanti Zimema died last Tuesday of complications arising from diabetes. He was 58.

Born in 1958 in Qawukeni, Whittlesea, Zimema was the son of Master MaMiya.

In 2006, the chief agreed to host a development indaba in his community, which established a partnership with the local government.

The indaba led to the establishment of the Zulukama Community Investment Trust through which he and his traditional council facilitated the commercialisation of livestock farming in the area.

Zimema and his council also worked with the Chris Hani district and Enoch Mgijima local municipalities to build dipping facilities, shearing sheds and livestock auction pans, among other things.

Former minister of water and environmental affairs and chairwoman of the Indibano to Harvest organisation, Lindiwe Hendricks, said: “We were inspired by the development work chief Zimema did in partnership with government and communities.

“Lessons learnt from his Hewu site influenced our thinking as private sector companies and development activists in establishing Indibano to Harvest.

“Today we pride ourselves of having designed and established Indibano to Harvest as an NPO whose mandate is to work with traditional leaders and help them and their communities commercialise land use in their respective areas.

“His Hewu site is today a site for learning and a template that could be emulated by other traditional leaders and local government structures.”

Hendricks said Zimema leaves behind a legacy of progressive development partnerships and collaborative approaches through which traditional leaders, councillors and communities could work together to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment in rural areas.

Zimema leaves behind a sister, son Buchule [heir to the throne] and three daughters. He will be buried tomorrow at Qawukeni Great Place.