Councillors, traditional leaders lock horns in Lupane
Thembelihle Mhlanga
A simmering feud between elected councilors and traditional leaders in Lupane, Matabeleland North province threatens to derail development efforts in the region.
Accusations of disrespect, corruption, and interference are flying thick and fast, leaving communities caught in the crossfire.
Headman Mthenjwa Khumalo, of Dandanda, accuses elected officials of undermining authority. He claims councilors, working hand-in-glove with some land barons, are grabbing land and resources without consulting the traditional custodians. He further alleges that they interfere in cultural practices and disregard the community’s needs and values.
“These councilors have no respect for us, as the traditional institutions, they come to our areas of jurisdiction and do as they please without our knowledge. They impose their agendas on our people, taking our land for their own benefit, and meddling in our customs. They are the roadblocks to progress in the district,” he said.
CCC councilor June Mpofu of Ward 26 at Kusile Rural District Council(KRDC), counters these claims as “baseless and unfounded.” He asserts that the councilors, being democratically elected representatives, hold the mandate to deliver development and services to the people. He accuses the traditional leaders of being politically motivated, aligning themselves with the opposition and civil society groups critical of the development
His sentiments were echoed by former councillor Abednego Nkala who also said the traditional leaders are the ones stalling development as they align themselves with political parties to resist any positive development.
“The traditional leaders are not being truthful, they are actively hindering any efforts to bring development to communities and abusing their power to intimidate and harass those who oppose them. They are the ones creating tension and conflict in our region,” said Nkala
With both sides locked in a war of words, the future of development in Lupane remains uncertain.
Beyond the blame game, the real losers are the people of Lupane as development projects stall. This conflict is not unique to Lupane only, similar tensions exist in other parts of Zimbabwe, highlighting the need for a nationwide approach to resolving these issues.
