CHIPINGE — Traditional leaders have been urged to stamp their authority and resist bullying tactics by some politicians who will be hoping to abuse the institution of traditional leadership for political mileage.
Report By OBEY MANAYITI STAFF REPORTER
Speaking during the memorial service for the late Chipinge Senator Josiah Rimbi at his rural home in Rimbi on Saturday, MDC-T Manicaland provincial organising secretary Prosper Mutseyami said traditional leaders should not be abused for political gains.
The late Chipinge Senator, who was a headman in Rimbi, died in September last year and was buried at his rural home in Chipinge.
“We are gathered here to celebrate the life of Senator Rimbi who was himself a traditional leader,” said Mutseyami, who is also MP for Musikavanhu constituency.
“His professional and political career speaks loud of the man who refused to be intimidated and abused by the powers-that-be.
“The late Senator Rimbi will be remembered for instilling confidence and strength in other traditional leaders whom he encouraged to resist abuse by Zanu PF. He nurtured many of us in the MDC to be what we are today. He managed to exorcise the demon of fear in the MDC family and other traditional leaders like him.
“Therefore, other traditional leaders should copy from him and serve the people in a manner which is accommodative and resist being abused.”
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The MDC-T has on numerous occasions accused Zanu PF of arm-twisting traditional leaders to be virtual political commissars for the party.
In other areas, traditional leaders have been mandated to suppress anti-Zanu PF elements, especially when distributing food aid and farming inputs.
Several MPs from Manicaland and other senior MDC-T officials attended the memorial service.
