Ngungumbane, Chireya elected to Senate

GWERU – Chiefs Ngungumbane of Mberengwa and Chireya of Gokwe have been elected into the Senate by the Midlands Province Chiefs Assembly.
Chief Ngungumbane polled 17 votes, while Chief Chireya polled nine votes during the elections that were conducted by the Zimbabwe Election Commission.
Chiefs Gwesela and Ntabeni polled four and one vote each after they had also been nominated. Speaking after the election, Chief Ngungumbane said he received the re-endorsement with humility after a process that was done in a peaceful, free, fair and transparent environment.
“I am humbled, joyed and moved by the support and confidence that the chiefs have shown in me.

“It is not that I am a fountain of knowledge or wisdom but there are better people in that college that could also do a better job, but the continuous support means chiefs are happy with the work that we have been doing. “Although we could do much better, it is our fervent view together with Chief Chireya that as we move forward, we are servants of the assembly and we will act as directed; we are not their bosses,” he said.

Chief Ngungumbane said they will be going to parliament to primarily represent their (Chiefs) views in the Senate and to hold government to account as well as make laws.
He said there are many duties and responsibilities that will come during their reign and it is their view that they execute them diligently, rightfully without showing any fear or favour.
The paramount chief said the dissolution of the ninth parliament of Zimbabwe on the eve of the August 23 harmonised Elections means all the legislative processes that were outlaid have elapsed and the 10th parliament will then need to convene and put in place laws that it will pass.
“We have the outstanding Traditional Leaders Amendment Bill, which we eagerly await and hope will be shared with the chiefs so that it is subsequently aligned with the Constitution.
“Bills should reflect the country’s unity, diverse and supremacy of the Constitution.”

On the harmonised elections just finished with results trickling in, Chief Ngungumbane appealed for calmness and unity.
“We could have divergent views in terms of who we want, but we are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the soil that are bound by the principle of Ubuntu.
“We pray that people do not preach falsehoods that will give people false hope and appeal to the powers that be to carry out their mandate as prescribed by the law,” he said.
The electoral college for the chiefs’ elections had 31 substantive chiefs and was held in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Electoral Law and the Traditional Leaders Act.