‘Govt not mandated to intervene in Chieftainship wrangles’

MINISTER of Local Government, Public works and National Housing Cde July Moyo has said Government is not mandated to intervene in Chieftainship wrangles.

Addressing hundreds of villagers in Zhombe at Chief Samambwa’s installation ceremony, Cde Moyo said the Government can only watch from afar until the wrangle is resolved.

Chief Samambwa’s installation marked the end of a nine-year Chieftainship wrangle.

“The Government is not mandated to intervene in Chieftainship wrangles such as these ones, we could only watch from the side-lines as the war transgressed, though we were concerned with what was happening in the Samambwa area,” he said.

Cde Moyo said the feud was impacting negatively on the development of the area and that Chief Samambwa’s installation was a beginning of better things to come in Zhombe.

“We now expect to see change in the area, positive change that will bring about development that had been stalled for the past nine years due to the disputes,” said Cde Moyo.

Cde Moyo also urged traditional leaders to work together with the Government in bringing about development in the area.

“It is necessary for Chiefs to work hand in hand with the Government to develop communities. When allocating stands, they must consult with Government offices like the Ministry of Lands, Rural District Council the District Administrator to avoid allocating stands in undesignated places like grazing lands, river banks and near dams,” he said.