Charumbira, made it no secret where his allegiance as a traditional leader lies. To Zanu PF he was clear and even said that before people become MPs they should be taught the history of the country according to Zanu PF.
Before a person becomes a government official he should be taught the countrys history if he fails to appreciate that then he should not be accepted, said Charumbira. Words from the leader of chiefs who is supposed to be, according to the dictates of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), itself the foundation of the current political dispensation obtaining in the
country non aligned.
Article VII of the GPA states that concrete measures (legislative and administrative) put in place to ensure neutrality of traditional leaders. However, in its report for 2010 and 2011, Civil Society Monitoring Mechanism (CISOMM), notes that traditional leaders such as Charumbira have remained largely pro-Zanu PF. With the Government of National Unity (GNU) now over two years old, traditional leaders were expected to take a leading role in permeating national healing to the grassroots in their respective communities where wounds inflicted by alleged Zanu PF supporters in 2008.
The role of traditional leadership in transitional justice process is becoming more prominent. Traditional and informal justice systems have gained greater prominence in contemporary peace building, traditional leaders are considered in-touch with their followers, culture and laws, notes CISOMM. Such is the pivotal role of traditional leaders who are headed by Charumbira.
They have a duty to the people they serve and national healing through them could be possible only if they could be impartial. Such a golden chance to get wounds healed through the traditional channels of justice is according to CISSOM slipping away. This crucial role of traditional leadership in rebuilding societies after violence is greatly marred in Zimbabwe. The majority of chiefs have remained vassals of the ruling party, notes CISOMM.
And words of Charumbira certify that view. Charumbira who is no longer on the list of targeted sanctions intends to be the advocate for those still on the targeted measures. Even if they removed me from sanctions I am going to fight them. As
chiefs we have made a stand and we going to meet the queen of England, said Charumbira.
It could seem that Charumbira is singing for his supper. He is what he is today because of Zanu PF system of patronage. Many chiefs live comfortably in electrified homes and drive vehicles bought for them by Zanu PF, while their subjects live in abject poverty. JOMIC and other organisations have tried to impress on chiefs on the need for their impartiality but still laws and the system binds them to Zanu PF.
In practice and in legislation, there has been no effective means to free the chiefs from control of Zanu PF, notes CISSOM. And indeed they have been relentless in their fight for the continued dominance of Zanu PF, they have among other things presided over the partisan distribution of food. They have imposed curfews and in some cases they have even denied people suspected to support the MDC not to plant. A chance to heal through traditional leaders is only but a mirage, unless if the chiefs reform and the system of patronage that Zanu PF employs is dismantled.
Post published in: News