The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Monday, January 24, 1993 — The Government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, will soon conduct research into the Zimbabwe chieftainship to ascertain the number of chiefs who were deprived of their chieftainship by the colonial regime because of their support of the liberation struggle.

The Senior Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Cde Joseph Msika, said yesterday that the Government is deciding on what action to be taken regarding the issue.

Cde Msika said his ministry decided to conduct the research after receiving numerous complaints from individuals who claimed that they had been deprived of their chieftainship because of their support of the liberation struggle.

“Government, through my ministry, has decided to conduct the research to establish the truth regarding this matter,” Cde Msika said.

Cde Msika, who was speaking in Zvishavane when he installed Mr Mandinda Mapanzura as the eighth chief of the Mapanzura family tree, said the Government would only decide on what action to take after the completion of the research. He, however, assured the public that no chief would be removed from his post because of the exercise, but said if the claims were found to be true, the Government might consider giving the affected individuals their chieftainships back.

Meanwhile, Cde Msika said chiefs in Zimbabwe should continue playing their role as agents for development.

He said since district councils were development planning authorities in their respective areas, chiefs by being members of these councils were therefore involved in all development aspects of the areas.