Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. I am writing this in response to an article that recently appeared in the NewsDay edition of September 21, 2025.
The originator of the article did not disclose his/her name.
I suspect it is the work of fraudsters bent on tarnishing the good name of Mangwende chieftainship.
I wish to inform the public that the originator of the article is a mischievous person or group of persons who do not know the laws of Zimbabwe and how government structures and traditional structures operate.
The referenced article states that the Government of Zimbabwe has lost grip in Murewa South resettlement areas after some traditional leaders reportedly defied a ministerial order and appointed village heads, thereby creating chaos.
Such criticism of the government is unwarranted.
The originator goes on to state that there are no village heads in resettlement areas and that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works recognises village development committees (VIDCOs).
The article further states that Chief Mangwende’s steering committee has invaded the resettlement areas, appointing village heads without government permission, and that village heads were reportedly handpicked by Charles Mukarakate, who is a member of Chief Mangwende’s steering committee.
Several other statements were written in the referenced article, and these statements are false and misleading to readers.
I, therefore, wish to dispel the falsehood in the referenced article.
Firstly, I wish to put it on record that Murewa District is under Chief Mangwende’s jurisdiction, and the Government of Zimbabwe returned Macheke Resettlement area to Chief Mangwende through Gazette No. 67 under General Notice 591 of 2011 titled Description of the Resettlement Area under Chief Mangwende, Murewa District in Mashonaland East Province.
Therefore, the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe applies to the whole of Chief Mangwende’s area of jurisdiction just as the same act applies to any other chieftainship areas in Zimbabwe.
Procedures for the appointments of chiefs, headmen and village heads are clearly laid out in the Traditional Leaders Act [Chapter 29:17].
When a need arises to appoint a traditional leader, Chief Mangwende follows processes and procedures stipulated in the Traditional Leaders Act and liaises with the district development coordinator (DDC) of Murewa District.
The originator of the referenced article is confusing appointments of traditional leaders governed by the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17 and appointments of committees of rural district councils such as Village Development Committees (Vidcos) and Ward Development Committees (Wadco), which are governed by the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13].
Committees of rural district councils are established to enhance the functions of rural district councils.
Those who write that there are no village heads in resettlement areas and that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works only recognise Vidcos are spreading misinformation.
Furthermore, the originator of the referenced article states that Vidcos are elected bodies.
This is not correct because Vidco members are appointed by councils in terms of the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13] and not elected.
The Mangwende clan collaborates well with all arms of the Government of Zimbabwe in relation to traditional leadership matters in terms of the Traditional Leaders Act [Chapter 29:17].
Council matters are dealt with by the Murewa Rural District Council in terms of the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13].
Any person or group of persons who wish to know more about the Traditional Leaders Act and Rural District Councils Act, can contact the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works which is the repository of information on local governance.
Chief Mangwende, Murewa District
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