Antony Chawagarira
ZAKA — The Muroyi community in Zaka has celebrated the restoration of its chieftainship more than seven decades after the traditional institution was abolished and downgraded to headmanship during the colonial era.
Solomon Charles Mavhenyengwa was installed as the first substantive Chief Muroyi at a ceremony held in Zaka on Friday, marking a significant milestone for the Muroyi family and the wider community.
The installation was presided over by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, and attended by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, traditional leaders, senior Government officials and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Garwe said traditional leaders remained central to rural development and the preservation of Zimbabwe’s cultural values and heritage.
“The Chiefs, Headmen and Village Heads play a very important role in the planning and implementation of all Rural Development Projects,” he said.
The minister said traditional leaders were also instrumental in mobilising communities to participate throughout the project cycle, adding that their involvement was critical to the success and sustainability of development initiatives.
“Without their support, most projects might have either failed to take off or collapsed immediately after completion,” he said.
He said the Government recognised the role of traditional leaders in addressing socio-economic infrastructure imbalances inherited from the colonial era.
Since Independence, Government has implemented various rural development projects, including the construction of schools, clinics, hospitals, dams and roads, as well as the drilling of boreholes, he said.
Minister Garwe also said traditional leaders had a responsibility to safeguard the country’s culture, values, norms and heritage.
Minister Chadzamira congratulated Chief Muroyi on his installation and urged the community to work closely with the new traditional leader to promote peace, unity and development.
“As Government, we call upon the people of Muroyi to work closely with their Chief, Headmen and Village Heads, embracing one another and working together to promote peace, unity and development,” he said.
Minister Chadzamira also expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for supporting the restoration of traditional institutions that were disrupted during the colonial period.
He said the restoration of the Muroyi chieftainship was part of efforts by the Second Republic to uphold the dignity and authority of traditional leaders.
The Minister further urged Chief Muroyi to remain close to his subjects and work with Government and other stakeholders in advancing development in the area.
The installation follows the installation of Chief Nemamwa, Fungai Manjiva, in Masvingo District on Thursday.
For the Muroyi family, the restoration of the chieftainship fulfilled a long-standing aspiration.
Family representative Tomias Mazuru said the community was grateful for the restoration of the traditional institution.
“This is a moment of great joy for the Muroyi family and the entire community. Going forward, our vision is to use this Chieftainship to unite our people, promote peace and work together with Government in bringing development to our communities,” he said.
Masvingo Provincial Chairperson of the National Chiefs Council, Chief Serima, welcomed Chief Muroyi into the council, saying traditional institutions remained important to community identity and governance.
“As traditional leaders, we have a responsibility to unite our people, preserve our culture, maintain law and order and support Government development programmes,” he said.
Chief Muroyi, born in May 1994, holds a degree in Human Resources Management and is a farmer. He is from the Makwarimba house of the Muroyi family.
The newly installed traditional leader takes charge as Government continues to emphasise the role of traditional institutions in driving rural development and achieving the country’s Vision 2030 objectives.
