Moffat Mungazi
Rodgers Irimayi
Cultural Perspectives
OUR African system provides a special place for traditional leaders. As cultural diffusion takes centre stage in the new world order, traditional leaders play significant roles in navigating the complexities of cultural heritage, community development, and national governance.
We will examine the importance of these roles and their impact to the preservation of cultural practices, values, norms, and beliefs.
In Zimbabwe, chiefs, headmen and village heads are regarded as custodians of cultural preservation and promotion of cultural traditions, customs, and values. There are important traditional ceremonies that are maintained and protected such as ‘‘chisi’’, ‘‘bira remvura’’, and several others that relate to the different cultures in the country.
This is another significant role of promoting indigenous languages which is key in maintaining and revitalising all other cultural practices.
Through various traditional ceremonies, songs and dances are used to send out messages according to each group and system.
At such important functions, circular songs and language are avoided.
A well-established traditional community development and governance system enables traditional leaders to represent their communities’ interests and concerns in local, national, and international forums.
In Zimbabwe, traditional leaders through the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs represent people in Parliament.
Traditional leaders work with Government to develop policies.
This is a clear demonstration of how important the cultural system is considered in the country.
Even at the lower levels, chiefs are incorporated into the Rural District Councils where they also seat in the full council meetings through their representatives.
Traditional leaders are important when it comes to conflict resolution in our societies.
Through the ‘‘dare’’ or community courts, they often assist in resolving conflicts and disputes within their communities.
They even preside over marriage squabbles and other domestic violence cases. They know their limits and areas of jurisdiction as established and provided through an Act of Parliament and the Traditional Leaders Act.
It is imperative to mention that traditional leaders are key when it comes to community development initiatives. They collaborate with Government departments, development partners, and other stakeholders to implement development projects and programmes.
In some communities in Zimbabwe, there have been clashes when investors fail to consult communities before operating in those areas. It might be the extraction of minerals, consulting traditional leaders is paramount.
There are some places of symbolic significance that are considered sacred by some communities, but some investors violate and ignore them for the sake of making profit.
When conflicts arise in such instances, traditional leaders are called in to resolve them through the engagement.
It has worked with some companies where operations later resumed after meeting the expectations of the local traditional authority.
The role of environmental stewardship cannot be overlooked.
Communities have their own natural resource management systems where traditional leaders work to protect and manage natural resources, such as land, water, and forests.
Through traditional leaders, climate change mitigation efforts are applied. They contribute to climate change mitigation efforts, sharing traditional knowledge and practices.
Some even establish local community regulations to control deforestation, river cultivation and land degradation.
Members of the community who violate the regulations are made to pay fines in the form of livestock such as chickens, goats or any other form regarded punitive enough to deter further violation.
Health and wellbeing through traditional medicine is another area where traditional leaders promote and preserve them.
Through traditional medicine practices, these leaders often encourage their communities, not to abandon their customs, but to work with modern healthcare systems.
They support the community health initiatives put by Government. They support the Village Health Care workers in their areas who focus on prevention, education, and healthcare access.
It is prudent to mention the role of traditional leaders in education and research where they promote cultural education.
They also share their knowledge and traditions with younger generations. They collaborate with researchers, academics, and institutions who document and study traditional knowledge and practices.
Students from universities and others from professional institutions relate with traditional leaders for information and history about their areas.
On international diplomacy, traditional leaders are engaged to represent their communities’ interests and promote cultural exchange.
Chief Charumbira has represented Zimbabwe on the African organ.
Traditional leaders’ roles in the modern world are diverse and multifaceted. By recognising and supporting their contributions, we can foster more inclusive and sustainable development.
Rodgers Irimayi is the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Masvingo Provincial Information Officer. He writes in his personal capacity and can be contacted on +263778246098 or [email protected]
