Parliament Debates Unpaid Headmen in Hwange District

Parliament erupted into heated arguments after lawmakers accused government officials of abandoning traditional leaders in Hwange district. Joseph Bonda, who represents Hwwhile East, told fellow legislators that headmen have worked without pay for more than ten years. He said most village leaders remain unrecognized despite serving their communities faithfully. The politician demanded answers about why the Ministry of Local Government has failed these traditional authorities. Some headmen have waited fifteen years for official appointments and salaries.

Deputy Minister Benjamin Kabikira pushed back against these claims during the parliamentary session. He insisted that all properly appointed headmen receive their monthly payments on time. The minister stated no traditional leaders are owed back wages from previous months. Bonda challenged this response and said only one headman across the entire district gets paid regularly. He urged ministry officials to fix the problem immediately.

Other lawmakers joined the debate and warned about serious consequences for rural development. They argued that unpaid headmen cannot effectively support village projects and community growth. Legislator Tofanana Zhou raised additional concerns about missing chiefs in resettlement areas. Kabikira explained that new appointments depend on updating traditional leadership laws to match constitutional requirements. The ministry expects this legal process to finish soon.