President Mnangagwa Opens 2025 Annual National Chiefs Conference

By Edward Makuzva

Harare — The National Chiefs Conference opened in Harare with a powerful call for unity, cultural preservation, and rural-driven economic transformation, as His Excellency, President Cde. Emmerson Mnangagwa reaffirmed the Second Republic’s unwavering partnership with Zimbabwe’s traditional leadership.

Addressing Chiefs, Headmen, Village Heads, and delegates gathered from across the country, President Mnangagwa described the conference as “an opportunity to reflect on matters affecting our rural communities and to take stock of the commitments made to the people under your stewardship.”

The President emphasized that the bond between the State and traditional institutions is not only historical but foundational.

He commended Chiefs for their role during the liberation struggle and declared that the relationship remains central to Zimbabwe’s nation-building agenda.

“My Government will remain closely intertwined with the Traditional Leaders and for that we make no apologies,” President Mnangagwa stated.

Driving Rural Industrialisation

Through the Rural Development 8.0 ProgrammeA major focus of the address was the remarkable progress in agriculture and rural development under the Second Republic.

The President applauded the Chiefs for their stewardship in programmes such as: Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Village Business Units, Winter Wheat Programme Livestock, Fisheries and Horticulture Initiatives, Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi.

These programmes, he noted, have improved harvests, boosted household incomes, and elevated livelihoods across the nation.

Under Rural Development 8.0, Government is establishing agro-processing factories, storage facilities, and marketing structures to ensure that rural communities benefit directly from value addition and beneficiation.

“Zvinodadisa kuti isu vene venyika tava kushandisa ivhu redu tichisimudzira matunhu enyika yedu,” the President said.

Climate Mitigation and Infrastructure: A Country Under ConstructionTo counter the realities of climate change, irrigation schemes are being revived and expanded, with significant attention placed on speeding up the completion of the Gwai-Shangani and Kunzvi Dams.

These investments aim to guarantee water security and catalyse green belt agriculture.

In addition to water infrastructure, road development, energy expansion and ICT modernisation remain priority areas for the Second Republic.

Rural roads, trunk routes and feeder networks will receive focused investment to enhance mobility, commerce, and service delivery.

Traditional Leaders: Custodians of Land, Culture and Justice

President Mnangagwa urged Traditional Leaders to safeguard natural resources, insisting that any investor local or foreign must respect Zimbabwe’s laws, customs, and cultural identity.

Government, he added, expects Chiefs to play a frontline role in combatting social vices such as drug and substance abuse, gender-based violence, and cultural erosion.

The expansion of the duties of Chiefs to include marriage officiation and facilitating birth and death registration is expected to bring essential services closer to rural communities.

The President called for impartiality, fairness and ethical conduct in the execution of these duties.

Better Conditions of Service and Empowerment for Traditional LeadersIn recognition of the critical role of Traditional Leaders, Government continues to improve support and service delivery to the institution.

Under the Second Republic, investments are ongoing in:Electricity and water provisionImproved access roadsMedical aid and funeral insurance frameworks

Mobility and communication tools — including the handover of an additional fleet of vehicles and mobile phonesUnity, Patriotism and Vision 2030.

Closing his speech, President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude for the “gallant and unwavering support” from Traditional Leaders to his administration and the ruling party.

As Zimbabwe marches toward Vision 2030, he called for a united, patriotic, and focused national mindset.

“Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo,” he reiterated, declaring the conference officially opened and extending Christmas and New Year’s wishes to all traditional leaders and their families.