Patricia Mzwanyana, the local female traditional headman for the area, is holding court. The group of men are her caucus of assessors and traditional advisors. They are discussing the traditional court session to be held at the headman’s homestead later that day.
Mzwanyana (80), one of the few female traditional leaders in the country, prefers to be called a headman by her subjects.
“I do not have any problems being called a headman. The title headman is an office and therefore it is correct to address me as headman because I am currently assuming that office although I am a female,” she said. Mzwanyana was officially installed in 1996 following the death of her father, Ngazambi Mzwanyama.
“My father did not have male children. So when he passed away, as an elder daughter, I had to take over the headmanship,” she said in a deep bellowing voice befitting a traditional leader.
The headman, who is not married and has no children, said it was not easy to be a female traditional leader in a society where most men were not prepared to be subservient to women. She has professional qualifications in accounting and typing.
“It very difficult for a woman like myself to be accepted as a leader, worse still a traditional leader. At times people do not respect you or take you seriously,” she said, and paid tribute to her advisors and assessors for giving her strength in the execution of her duties.
“I have got a team of trusted men and women advisors whom I work with. They assist me to preside over my court and other fulfil engagements. At our traditional court we always try to be fair and firm,” she said.
When The Zimbabwean visited her homestead last week, Mzwanyana and her advisors were set to preside over a case of adultery.
Under the traditional leaders act, headmen preside over local disputes involving customary law on matters such as lobola, domestic disputes, traditional aspects of incest, straying of livestock and the performance of customary rites.
Post published in: News