COUNCIL of Chiefs president Chief Mtshane Khumalo has bemoaned the government's lack of concern about the livelihoods of the country’s traditional leaders.
Speaking at the Local Government and Public Works strategic planning workshop last week, Khumalo called on the government to build offices for the traditional leaders.
He said the traditional leaders have failed to perform their duties as they have been receiving little help from the government.
“The monies come in late and when they do, it is only meagre amounts,” he said.
Khumalo also bemoaned the neglect of chiefs across the country saying their cars were not being serviced, affecting their duties.
“Some meetings could not be held in certain provinces as funds to do so were being withheld by the government. Due to the lack of funds, there are four provinces that have not held their statutory meetings,” Khumalo said.
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He, however, praised the government for paying village heads through banks.
“Efforts have been made to include village heads to get their money from banks than line at the offices of DDCs (district development co-ordinators),” he said.
Chief Khumalo’s remarks come at a time when there have been citizens’ concerns the President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration has been prioritising chiefs by dishing out top-of the-range vehicles at a time when more than half of the population is facing starvation and requires food aid.
They said the government could have diverted the funds to the crumbling health services or to halt poor service delivery in various government institutions.