The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo in Hwange Sunday News Reporter
ACTING Chief Whange of Hwange District has not been paid for serving in that capacity for nearly three years, this paper can reveal.
Simangani headman Mr Raphael Nyoni was elevated to the position of acting Chief Whange following the death of the previous traditional leader, Wilson Bengani Ncube, in March 2011.
He was nominated to the position after being recommended by village heads from Simangani, Mandumabizha, Mashala and Luseche villages and was allowed to take over the reins by the district administrator’s office following approval from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Mr Nyoni stopped acting in May following the appointment of the substantive chief, Mr Amos Chipaya Lusumbami, who will be officially installed on Saturday 19 July.
The incoming chief is from the Nenele clan in a chieftainship whose succession culture is collateral, which means it moves from clan (house) to clan.
There are four clans namely Ndunduli, Buhwa, Nenele and Mpande.
“I wasn’t given my salary for the two years 10 months I was acting chief. Each time I inquired from the district administrator (DA)’s office there wasn’t a satisfactory response as to why I was not receiving my dues and I think my rights were infringed,” said Mr Nyoni.
Hwange DA Mr Tapera Mugoriya confirmed the development only saying: “We are aware of that matter. It is being addressed and anyway the substantive chief is being installed on 19 July.”
The President of the Chiefs Council of Zimbabwe, Chief Fortune Charumbira, said the non-payment of acting Chief Whange was a big anomaly and the DA should expedite its rectification through the ministry.
“If he (Mr Nyoni) was properly nominated and made to sign proper documents to serve as the acting chief he ought to have been entitled to his salary after about two to six months.
“The fact that you are saying that he didn’t receive any salary since the time he started acting means it should be given to him and backdated to the time he started serving,” Chief Charumbira said.
Chiefs earn $300 per month. Those in the National Council of Chiefs get an additional $30. Headmen get $140 per month, village heads $25, chiefs’ messengers $40, and headmen’s messengers $20.
When a chief dies, there is a package of $200, an open-face casket or cash equivalent, and food assistance of $200.
Under the Traditional Leaders’ Act, a chief shall be paid from moneys appropriated for the purpose by an Act of Parliament, such salary, allowances, gratuities and pension as the President may fix from time to time.
