VETERAN journalist Thomas Chidamba has left the newsroom to take up a traditional leadership role in his ancestral village in Mazowe, marking a shift from reporting on rural governance to administering it.
Chidamba, senior journalist of more than 20 years and a former sub-editor at NewsDay, took over the role of village head in Mazowe following the death of his father, Kedros Chidamba, who occupied that position before.
Chidamba will oversee community development, dispute resolution and cultural heritage preservation in the village.
The appointment has drawn attention from both media and traditional leadership sectors due to Chidamba’s background in journalism and archaeology.
“I’m excited to bring my skills and experience to this new challenge,” Chidamba told NewsDay Weekender.
“As a journalist, I was always looking for the story.
“Now I’ll be part of the story, working to build a better future for my community.”
As traditional leader, Chidamba’s duties include mobilising development projects such as boreholes, road repairs, school upgrades, and agricultural support.
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He also presides over local dispute resolution, handling land and family matters that reach the Village Head’s dare.
Chidamba holds a Masters Degree in Archaeological Forensic.
He said the qualification will inform efforts to identify and protect pre-colonial heritage sites in Mazowe.
Plans include working with museums, universities, and local youth to map and document historical locations.
“I believe my experience as a journalist and an archaeologist will serve me well in promoting development and good governance in our community,” he said.
“Journalism taught me to verify before I act. Archaeology taught me that what we build today becomes what future generations dig up tomorrow.”
Village heads play a central administrative role in Zimbabwe’s rural areas, where they settle disputes, co-ordinate government programmes, and maintain cultural practices.
Community elders welcomed Chidamba’s appointment, citing his research and communication skills as assets for modern rural governance.
Chidamba said his first 100 days will focus on community consultations and mapping local needs and heritage sites.
