VILLAGE heads from all parts of the country are, with immediate effect, expected to receive US$ allowances while Government will also increase their monthly salaries in local currency.
Zanu-PF Second Secretary Cde Kembo Mohadi revealed this yesterday in Tsholotsho where he met different stakeholders as part of his national tour of party structures.
He told village heads, headmen and chiefs, who were part of the gathering, that with effect from this month, village heads will receive US$50 in allowances while modalities are underway to also effect an increase to their salaries, with indications that the figures will be doubled.
There are 36 000 village heads in Zimbabwe, some of whom have, however, not been receiving any salary.
The revolutionary party’s Second Secretary, advised all non-salaried village heads to forward their names to District Development Coordinators who will in turn send the names to the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution who shall facilitate their registration to start receiving payments and benefit from the forex allowance.
“As village heads, you are working hard yet what you’re getting is not reflective of the amount of work done.
The Ministry of Local Government officials are here and for those of you not yet registered, you must go to the DDC and be registered as soon as possible,” said Cde Mohadi.
“We noted that the money you are getting is no longer of much value so it has been decided that it be increased, most likely doubled. Over and above that, you shall get US$50 per month effective this month.”
Also in attendance was Tsholotsho Senator, Cde Alice Dube, Tsholotsho South and North House of Assembly representatives, Musa Ncube and Retired Brigadier General Sibangumuzi Khumalo, respectively.
Some of the village heads who spoke to Chronicle following the announcement said the news came as a huge relief to them and appealed to the Government to put measures in place that the money comes consistently every month.
“Our salary was not coming monthly.
We would go for two or three months without anything and that money gets eroded in value but now that ubaba has announced the good news of a forex allowance our lives will surely change for the better,” said Bhalala 1 Malanda village head, Mr Ntetshana Ndebele.
Another village head, Ms Sibongile Tshalibe of Dinyane East in Ward 15, said she was delighted with the new announcement.
“Since 2015 I have been trying to register with authorities to no avail but now there is a clear light, we will be registered and I am so happy,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cde Mohadi implored the party’s leadership structures to respect and honour traditional leaders as they are custodians of cultural values and norms.
He introduced the party’s Tsholotsho District Coordinating Committee to traditional leaders saying political leaders must never view a traditional leader as their subordinate or subject.
“Always know that we don’t own people, but traditional leaders do.
We are the subjects of our traditional leaders, let’s do what doesn’t infuriate them,” said Cde Mohadi.
“It has previously been the norm that once people get into positions of leadership they tend to forget our traditional leaders, let us not do that.”
He also appealed to the traditional leaders to allow the party leadership in the district to do their party duties as they work towards canvassing for five million votes for Zanu-PF at next year’s harmonised elections.
In May, Mohadi admitted that Nelson Chamisa’s Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) was giving Zanu PF sleepless nights as he urged ruling party members to ‘pull up their socks’ to avoid a 2023 shocker.
Mohadi expressed concern at the CCC’s rapid growth, saying it was making inroads even into the party’s strongholds. He said this during an induction workshop for the ruling party’s Matabeleland South leadership in Beitbridge.
Chamisa unveiled the CCC in January this year after his nemesis MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora claimed all the MDC names and symbols.
The CCC made known its intentions for 2023 winning 19 of the 28 contested parliamentary seats in the March 26 by-elections with Zanu PF taking the remainder, a feat that Mohadi said was worrying.
“We did not have MDC until 1999 so it came from us.
“We were not good shepherds. We lost some sheep in our flock and they have come to haunt us,” Mohadi said while officially opening the workshop on Friday.
“If we had listened to the workers, we would not be having this MDC headache.
“This opposition party did not exist until 1999…the party has come back to haunt us and cause us headaches.
“These lost sheep are giving us sleepless nights. It’s a daunting task to get rid of them but we should do it through votes.”
In 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa won the presidential election with a slight margin, but Chamisa insists he was robbed of victory through rigging mechanisms.
Chamisa and Mnangangwa will square off in 2023 again as they have been endorsed by their supporters.
Recently, the CCC launched a campaign targeting rural areas, Zanu PF’s known strongholds.
In 2021, Chamisa’s rural inroads were met with violence from suspected Zanu Pf fanatics.
Mohadi said he could not fathom an opposition victory in the 2023 polls as he pleaded with the party faithful to expend their energies towards ensuring a Mnangagwa and Zanu Pf victory next year.
“Your invitation of gurus from the Chitepo College of Ideology shows the seriousness of the business you are gathered for.
“It is key to understand what values our great party stands for,” Mohadi said.
“We should ward off competition from opposition.
“We need to be stronger than ever before and we should remain alive as elections are the survival of our Independence.”
— Chronicle/The Standard
— Chronicle
