Work closely with Govt, traditional leaders urged

FIRST LADY Auxillia Mnangagwa has challenged traditional leaders to closely work with Government and development partnerships to engender and speed up socio-economic development in rural areas where the majority of people live.

In a speech read on her behalf by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa during a oneday First Lady’s interface conference with chiefs’ wives here on Saturday, the First Lady said traditional leaders were duty-bound to complement Government efforts to improve lives of people in rural communities. The conference was attended by chiefs’ wives from Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.

The First Lady said there were many challenges afflicting people in rural communities which required chiefs’ hands for them to end.

“I expect to work with you chiefs’ wives so that we join hands to end some of the nagging problems in our communities. Let us work together so

“Our girl child has many obstacles ranging from non-completion of higher education, being used to appease avenging spirits, being married off to very old men against their wishes and many more,” she said.

“Also, we have some of our people who have disabilities and in need of our help in society and I am offering assistance to them all.”

Bulawayo Minister for Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube said the importance of women in a given society cannot be over that we inculcate the spirit of working with our own hands amongst our people in the quest to develop our communities and the nation as a whole.

‘You shall be closely working with Government departments and non-governmental organisations to bring development in your areas,’’ she said.

The First Lady underscored the need for traditional leaders to be at the forefront of eradicating societal ills such as domestic violence, child marriages and other abuses mainly suffered by the girl child in rural communities.

“In the communities that you live, it is easy to quickly know and identify where the girl child has been forced into an early marriage or subjected to any form of abuse so that such a situation is quickly addressed.

“I am leaving you with a challenge, a challenge of making sure that we work together, with various Government departments and development partners to arrest some of the challenges facing our communities,’’ she said.

The First Lady exhorted traditional leaders to play a leading role in the

emphasised.

“I am very confident that this gathering, a first of its kind, will contribute significantly to gender equality and women empowerment in the rural areas,” she said.

“As a nation, we need to create opportunities to unlock women’s potential to exploit both social and economic circles.”

Cde Ncube thanked the First Lady for her concern for the people of Zimbabwe.

Police Commissioner Charity Charamba also encouraged women to report cases of abuse. Zimbabwe Women’s Micro- preservation of the country’s traditions, cultural values and norms that should be bequeathed to the next generation so that they retain their identity.

She said they were also supposed to promote the production of small grains such as rapoko and millet that were not only drought-tolerant in the face of global warming, but also highly nutritious, creating communities with healthy people. Participants at the conference were also apprised on the operations of the Zimbabwe Women Micro-Finance Bank, which serves communities without access to conventional banks, particularly women in rural areas. Most of the participants were very keen on the bank and wanted to know how speedily they can access loans to finance various businesses in their localities.

ZRP national police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba also addressed the conference where she revealed that Masvingo Province remained high on vices such as murder and rape. The First Lady gave the chiefs’ wives some hampers, including blankets and small grains seed.

finance Bank chief executive Mrs Mandas Marikanda implored women to apply for loans and to venture into castor bean farming. The chiefs’ wives asked questions regarding their welfare after spousal deaths, challenges they encounter in their societies such as water problems and need for support in awareness campaigns.

Chiefs from Matabeleland accompanied their wives to the meeting which was also graced by Ambassador Mary Mubi and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Cde Tsitsi Gezi.