CHIEFS Council president, Fortune Charumbira has endorsed his deputy Chief Mtshana Khumalo as his successor after announcing that he is not standing for re-election.
An election for the post will be held today in terms of section 37 of the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 2:13) at the ongoing National Chiefs Council meeting in Bulawayo.
“I have decided not to run for the chiefs’ council presidency after serving as president for the past 10 years,” Charumbira said.
“I am confident that Chief Khumalo will be a worthy successor and that he will continue to build on the progress that had been made during my time in office.
Khumalo has served as deputy president of the National Chiefs Council since 2018.
Khumalo, who is also the chairperson of the Matabeleland North Chiefs Council, hailed his working relationship with Charumbira.
“I have enjoyed working with Chief Charumbira as deputy to him,” Chief Khumalo said.
“Chief Charumbira worked closely and in consultation with me as deputy. All decisions and approaches were mutually agreed, typical of servant leadership.
- Letter from America: Chief Murinye is the man of the year
- Letter from America: Chief Murinye is the man of the year
- Fashion designer lights up Masvingo schools
- Fashion designer lights up Masvingo schools
Keep Reading
“Chief Charumbira's impeccable leadership skills and capacity earned him the continental post of President of the Pan African Parliament.”
“Chief Charumbira is a sanctuary of the traditional leaders' institutions nitty-gritties and ethos past, present and future,” said Chief Khumalo.
In the past, Charumbira, however, attracted controversy over his open support for Zanu PF despite the Constitution being clear on the need for traditional leaders to avoid being partisan.
In 2020, the Election Resource Centre dragged him to the High Court for refusing to apologise for his support of Zanu PF.
This followed a May 2018 High Court ruling ordering Charumbira to withdraw a statement he made the previous year where he urged fellow chiefs across the country to support the ruling party ahead of the 2018 elections.
