Chief Makumbe, Mapungwana Elected For Senate in Manicaland

MUTARE- Chiefs from Manicaland convened in Mutare where they nominated Chief Makumbe and Chief Mapungwana as Senator Chiefs who will represent the province in the Senate.
The traditional leaders were chosen by an electoral college of the provincial assembly comprising chiefs drawn from across Manicaland’s seven districts at the Chief’s Hall in Mutare.
Chief Makumbe and Chief Mapungwana are now taking up their second successive term in Senate. Presiding over the electoral process, Manicaland provincial elections officer, Thompson Chiwereweshe said the electoral process was smooth and easy going as the pair were the only nominated candidates.

“The chief’s provincial electoral college in Manicaland has nominated Chief Makumbe and Chief Mapungwana as the two senator chiefs. The exercise was smooth flowing as only two members were nominated. The pair was duly elected and declared senator chiefs as there were not more than two nominees in the process,” said Chiwereweshe. Speaking after his election, Chief Makumbe felt humbled by the confidence his counterparts had shown in him and said he was willing to continue pushing for the effective tackling of social ills such as child marriages in the province.

“I am humbled to have been presented with yet another opportunity to represent the province in Senate. Being elected for a second term successively has challenged me to work harder and push harder to ensure that we drive Manicaland’s development agenda. I was one of the proponents of the Marriages Act and I will continue pushing for effective tackling of child marriages as this is one of the social ills bedeviling the province,” said Chief Makumbe.

Chief Mapungwana spoke on driving economic growth of the province hinging on the vast mineral resources and agricultural productivity that Manicaland holds. “Our province boasts of mineral deposits, agriculture rich regions and scenic views to bolster tourism. The province can tap into all this and use it to spur Manicaland’s development,” he said.

Chiefs from all parts of the country elected 16 of their members who will take seats in Senate alongside 80 other senators. Two chiefs were elected from each province and will join Chief’s Council President, Chief Mtshane Khumalo and his deputy Chief Fortune Charumbira who became the first senators following their recent election.