Eddie Cross's Website

Traditional Leaders

When the first settlers arrived in the country after 1890, they found a country occupied by two main ethnic groupings - the one dominated by the Shona people and the other dominated by the Ndebele. Both Ethnic Nations were governed by Tribal Chiefs who represented the interests of the people, resolved conflicts and determined policies to govern the communities they led.

Under Shona culture, the Chiefs were selected from specific families and clans and by a Tribal Council of elders called the Dare. These were managed along traditional lines and the majority of decisions were taken by consensus. In this respect Shona political culture was democratic in character. While the Ndebele political culture was similar in many respects, Chiefs were selected by heredity and the title was passed down from father to son. Ndebele political culture included a Chiefs Council or Imbizo but was much more authoritarian in character. Decisions were most often taken on a top down basis with the Councils being an advisory body to the Chief and the King.

Following the imposition of a more modern system of government by the settlers after 1893, the Chiefs role was restricted and modified and by 1960 was relegated to the traditional leadership of the people living in the 'tribal areas'. These were areas restricted to the occupation of indigenous black Zimbabweans and constituted 16 million hectares or just over 40 per cent of the total area of the country. Following Independence in 1980, 3,8 million hectares of land held by commercial farmers was purchased and transferred to tribal occupation raising the area under tribal dispensation to over 50 per cent.

During the era under the Rhodesian Government, the Chiefs position was abused and they were required to act as agents of central Government. This often brought them into conflict with their own subjects and demeaned their position and status as custodians of the people's interests and concerns. Chiefs who opposed the policies and views of the Central Government were often removed from their posts and replaced with someone who would be more accommodating. This situation was exacerbated during the liberation struggle when the Traditional leaders often found themselves in the middle.

Since Independence the situation has deteriorated still further. Chiefs and Headmen are expected to act as agents of the Zanu PF Party and have been put onto the payroll of Central Government as an incentive. Some Chiefs and Headmen - especially in the southern regions where the Ndebele are dominant, the Chiefs and Headmen, retain a measure of independence. In the Shona dominated areas this is not generally the case. The authority of Chiefs has been extended to cover resettlement areas where small holder activities predominate.

As a consequence of this process, the position of the traditional leadership has been eroded. In the debate over the new national Constitution, the role of the Chiefs and their position in society was hotly debated and in the end their role as custodians of culture and language was recognised, but little else.

The Present Position
The affairs and concerns of traditional leaders is taken up in the following structures: