A traditional leader in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, has urged voters who reside in the area of his jurisdiction not to vote for aspiring candidates who incite violence ahead of the 23 August general elections.
Chief Khulumani Mathema said people should observe peace during elections, adding that no good leader would want to convince people to vote for them through violence.
The traditional leader made the comments while addressing a meeting on Saturday, at Sitezi in Gwanda, which he had convened for aspiring candidates to interface with villagers.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various political parties, independent candidates, and community members. <a href="https://cite.org.zw/violent-political-candidates-dont-deserve-votes-chief-mathema/">CITE</a> quoted Chief Mathema as saying:
<blockquote>
We want to have a peaceful election. If there is any candidate, regardless of which political party they come from, who incites violence, please do not vote for that person.
Good leaders are those who preach and uphold peace. We want leaders who will promote development and unity, not people who cause divisions.
Idon’t want a situation where people will start hiding in the hills because they would be fleeing from harassment from certain people, groups or political parties.
</blockquote>
During the meeting, the candidates presented their manifestos, and the villagers had an opportunity to ask questions, interrogate them and share their expectations.
Community members at the meeting raised a number of concerns. One of the issues that was raised was how aspiring candidates would deal with “oppressive” legislation that has been put in place.
Some asked why all opposition parties do not unite and form one strong force while others wanted to know if the candidates had adequate academic qualifications to hold the offices that they wish to hold.
CCC cluster leader for Gwanda, Jaston Mazhale, said their party, once voted into power, will repeal all the laws that are oppressive.
A representative from Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) said it was difficult to come together and form one opposition party because the objectives of the people are different.
A representative from ZANU PF, who was standing in for an aspiring candidate, said the ruling party is open to everyone who may want to come and join them.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Don't Vote For Candidates Who Incite Violence - Chief Mathema

A traditional leader in Matabeleland South Province, says outsiders should not harvest mopane worms (amacimbi / madora) in the region as they employ poor methods of harvesting.
This comes after the province has been inundated by people from various parts of the country who have been harvesting the worms since the onset of the rainy season.
Gwanda chief Khulumani Mathema told Sunday Southern Eye that the uncontrolled harvesting of mopane worms threatened the economic well-being of the region. He said:
<blockquote>
Amacimbi have been one of the economic enablers for people in our districts.
Now they (outsiders) are chopping down trees, which are the major source of mopane worms breeding.
So one wonders why the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is not protecting our people.
This is not the way to live; you know these people come here and do their business of collecting mopane worms and some do not even have respect because they cut down the trees.
Another thing is they do not know the process of collecting because they are not supposed to take them when they are still on the tree.
Instead, they should wait until they are now moving off from the tree on their own.
</blockquote>
Mathema said it is perplexing that people travel from faraway places to harvest Mopane worms in Matabeleland yet people from the region do not go to other regions to exploit natural resources found there. He said:
<blockquote>
The locals know how to collect the worms and understand the whole process to harvest amacimbi.
My question is: Have they ever seen us going to their provinces to collect any of the things that their areas are well-known for?
These people do not respect us and our culture, which is not fair because we no longer live peacefully.
They should not come here because they are now ripping us off our environmental rights.
If they want mopane worms (amacimbi) they should get them from wherever they come from not here.
</blockquote>
The traditional leader said their efforts to engage the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) on the issue have not been successful.
A Kaufusi villager, Reboni Noko said outsiders were also polluting the environment by leaving plastic bags and baby diapers everywhere.
Another villager, Relebile Nare said they were losing patience with the “foreigners” that had taken over their area.
Matabeleland South EMA public relations officer Sithembokuhle Moyo told Southern Eye they were aware of the issue but had not been empowered to intervene. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/news/article/200006437/tension-over-mopani-worms-harvesting">Southern Eye</a>

Mopane Worms Harvesting: "Outsiders" Accused Of Destroying The Environment

Chief Mathema, a traditional leader in Gwanda has criticised president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for repealing the Indigenisation Act saying the move robbed communities of shares from resources extracted from their areas.
The Act was repealed after some analysts said that it was scaring away investors who were now opting for other countries with fewer demands. Chief Mathema asserts that the move promotes looting of national resources. He said:
<blockquote>The repeal of the Indigenisation Act put in place by Mugabe’s regime has sent CSOTs into extinction.
We have decided to form an association to share ideas on how we can survive now that we no longer have the government support and that of companies which are looting our resources.</blockquote>
The Indigenisation Act had resulted in the establishment of community share ownership trusts to ensure that the indigenous communities benefited from national resources with minerals topping the agenda.
Zimbabwe was not the first country to have such a policy as the USA, China, France, Italy, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Taiwan and South Africa still have such policies in various forms which might not be as direct as the compulsory 51/49 shareholding adopted by Zimbabwe.
More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2020/03/15/chief-blasts-ed-share-scheme/">The Standard</a>

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