By Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday officially handed over 90 new Isuzu D-Max double cab vehicles at a Rainbow Towers Hotel, in Harare.
This year in February, at the same venue, Mnangagwa had previously handed over 100 new Isuzu D-Max vehicles to chiefs to aid them in their duties across various districts.
Of the targeted 300 beneficiary chiefs, 190 have received vehicles so far.
This initiative aligns with a policy that provides chiefs with new vehicles every five years, aimed at facilitating their duties.
Mnangagwa underscored that the handover is part of a broader initiative to help chiefs across the country improve their welfare and working conditions.
“It is my singular honour and pleasure to once again join you, our esteemed Chiefs, as we hand over another tranche of ninety conditions of service vehicles.
“This is part of my administration’s grand plan to uphold the dignity of our Chiefs and Traditional Leaders, who are the historical custodians of our land and culture, as they carry out their duties. It is also in line with the Government policy which has seen us giving the Chiefs vehicles every five years.
“The policy is premised on the understanding that Chiefs’ functions contribute directly and indirectly towards the attainment of Vision 2030 which seeks to achieve an upper-middle income economy for our people. Further, the facility ensures that the Chiefs can carry out their critical duties more efficiently and effectively,” said Mnangagwa.
In addition to the vehicle provision, he offered a medical assistance scheme for traditional leaders, which included medical insurance and a funeral assistance package.
“Further, my Administration has directed Government Ministries and Departments to provide other services and utilities that uplift the livelihoods and standing of Traditional Leaders in general. These include construction and maintenance of access roads to Chiefs homesteads, electrification of Chiefs homes, provision of water and sanitation facilities, as well as the tillage programme, among other services”, said Mnangagwa
He also added “The recent past has seen the enactment of new laws, which have given additional roles to traditional leaders, chief among them being the Marriages Act. The Marriages Act has seen Chiefs getting trained on their duties as marriage officers.
“In addition, the Births and Deaths Registry Act has empowered Chiefs in a manner which sees them registering births and deaths”
