The Sunday News
ZIMBABWEANS have been urged to embrace their leaders, value their leadership and always work towards issues of development rather than divisions which are counter-productive.
Speaking during a ceremony to mark Chief Mtshane Khumalo’s 40 years of being a chief, Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko said traditional leaders were a vital part of the country and for one chief to have gone for four decades in leadership showed the quality of a leader he was.
He said all other leaders, be it in whatever capacity, should look to emulate Chief Mtshane’s leadership qualities.
“A king is a king because of the people he leads. If you are a king you don’t have to separate yourself from the people but lead them and lead with them. The fact that today we are celebrating Chief Mtshane’s 40th year at the helm is something that has to be emulated and shows all of us the type of leader he is.
“To the Bubi community my advice to you all is that you must follow your leader. Support him to the last so that he achieves his endeavours as a leader. We must not forget that a progressive community has always been a united community,” said VP Mphoko.
Speaking at the same function, president of the chief’s council Chief Fortune Charumbira said Chief Mtshane was one of the most experienced chiefs in the country and they looked up to him to provide guidance during challenging situations.
“I have always worked well with Chief Mtshane, as the deputy president of the Chief’s Council, he is an embodiment of unity. For him there is no Shona or Ndebele, everyone is Zimbabwean to him; this is one attribute which we are supposed to emulate.
“Actually I must say, politicians must emulate us as chiefs, we are very united because of such people as Chief Mtshane. This is a key attribute of development,” said Chief Charumbira.
Chief Mtshane was also celebrating 15 years of being a Senator Chief. The 73-year-old chief, who is a widower, was born on 30 May 1942 and has five children, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also present at the celebrations were chiefs Mathuphula, Nyangazonke, Ngungumbane, Gampu, Mabhikwa and Siansali. Minister of Macro-economic Planning and Investment Promotion Dr Obert Mpofu, Minister in Vice-President Emmerson Mnangwagwa’s Cde Clifford Sibanda, Bubi Senator Cde Madeline Bhebhe and Matabeleland North provincial administrator Ms Latiso Dlamini were among the dignitaries.
