Mnangagwa clarifies chiefs’ role in politics

via Mnangagwa clarifies chiefs’ role in politics – DailyNews Live 18 May 2015 by Bernard Chiketo

MUTARE – Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned traditional leaders to keep out of politics but not to be political ignoramuses as he clarified provisions of Zimbabwe’s new Constitution.

Mnangagwa, who is also minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, told a public lecture on the constitution at Mutare Teachers’ College last week that chiefs should be “politically neutral” but need not be “ignorant”.

“The constitution states that traditional leaders are politically neutral but not politically ignorant,” Mnangagwa said.

“Zvakasiyana mahwisisa? (It’s different do you understand?),” the vice president added.

“You are politically neutral and not politically ignorant. Mofanira kuhwisisa politics nekuti imi madzimambo ndimi munochengeta murairo netsika dzepasi.

Hazvingagoni kuti muite zvose izvozvo musingagoni kuraira tsika dzapasi.

Tsika dzapasi ndidzo politics dzechivanhu. (You should understand politics because as chiefs you are the custodians of our traditional knowledge systems.

You can’t do that if you cannot advise on our cultural norms and values. Our cultural norms and values are our politics as Africans). Musapinda mupolitical activity but don’t be ignorant about it.”