Calvin Manika
AT first he refused to engage his visitors.
He called the district administrator to get his say on the visitors.
At the end, he welcomed them and engaged with the journalists in a cordial and professional manner.
He is a former teacher and is well learned and street wise.
This is what Chief Dingane Nelukoba offered to a host of journalists last week after paying him a visit at his homestead, in Mabale, Dete.
The journalists were on a field trip in Mabale and Dete.
Cross Mabale is popularly known for its turnoff to the Hwange Safari Lodge and the internationally acclaimed national park.
The scribes wanted to meet villagers and appreciate opportunities and challenges faced by the people in the area.
Driving through the gravel road with gullies and land prepared for gatshopo on either side brought understanding on the importance of the trip.
Few miles from Cross Mabale the scenery changed.
A hoisted Zimbabwean flag was enough indication that we had arrived. A travel and tour mini bus parked at Chief Nelukoba’s homestead.
Despite being journalists we were not short of glitches in complying with all the regulations of Covid 19.
Our first stop was at the gate for hand sanitisation, reminded of the proper way of wearing a face mask and social distancing was being encouraged though some find it difficult for unknown reasons.
Covid 19 has been spoken about everywhere from all lands to islands since the beginning of the year.
It is the pandemic which caught the world by surprise resulting in massive deaths, sickness, job cuts, schools closure, lockdowns, a change in ways in which business is conducted.
In a bid to spread the message to the grassroots, the government of Zimbabwe encouraged the chiefs to educate and embolden their subjects to limit the spread of the novel corona virus.
Since the government started easing the Covid 19 restrictions which include the full carrying capacity by Zupco buses, opening of schools and banning the production of travelling letters to facilitate the resuscitation of the economy people has been non – compliant. It is surprising that in rural outskirts and in such a village which seems forgotten, Chief Nelukoba is alive to the call by the government to fight Covid 19.
This is an epitome of exemplary leadership.
Scripturally people are encouraged to do their work faithfully without eye’s service and here in a deforested corner of Matabeleland North, Chief Dingane Nelukoba is a testimony to that gospel.
Chief Nelukoba community leadership if applied evenly across the national divide Zimbabwe is bound to emerge a winner in fighting Covid 19 than our current position.
It is through such principles he lectured to us: “I believe in working as a team despite political affiliation.” He berated people who are stalling community development due to politics. In the face of poverty among his subjects and enduring the effects of climate change induced drought which has hit the nation in successive years, the chief is confident that the completion of the Gwayi – Shangani River will be the turning point.
“People are making gullies, cutting down trees and failing to adapt to new ways of farming to mitigate drought caused by climate change. Shortage of water is our major challenge. I used to get my water at the clinic but when I realised that other sources of water are now dry in the villages I ceased to do that and priotised the community. The shortage of water has resulted in the loss of wealth including cattle. In my farm water is available but the trees surrounding the source have been destroyed by elephants looking for water. I believe that the completion of the construction of Gwayi – Shangani River will give life to the whole Matabeleland North.”
Whilst seated in his court room endowed with a library, referral books and legal literature among them the Amendment Number 19 Constitution of 2013 the Chief was quick to remind us that as chiefs they are mandated to bring peace and foster unity among the people of Zimbabwe especially in pandemic times like this.
The chief further said people have welcomed the climate proofed presidential input scheme popularly known as Pfumbudza/Intwasa and serious preparations were seen as we passed through the fields.
The multi lingual chief accommodated all his visitors for the day speaking in Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Tonga and English. A teacher by profession and board member of various organisations challenged local journalists from Hwange and Binga to report extensively on Matabeleland North especially on tourism, environment and climate change. Chief Nelukoba believes that good reportage of Matabeleland regions will attract investment and foster development
