ZDF and Chiefs Deepen Rural Partnership

Southerton Business Times
Oct 7
2 min read

Soldiers and civilians distribute supplies outdoors with green tents in the background. A red flag is visible under a blue sky. — Masvingo’s chiefs and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces strengthened their rural development partnership at Chief Nhema’s homestead in Zaka (image source)

A weekend gathering of Masvingo’s 52 chiefs at Chief Nhema’s homestead in Zaka celebrated the enduring partnership between traditional leaders and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) — a collaboration that chiefs and army officers say continues to drive local development, food security, and social cohesion across rural communities.

The Masvingo Provincial Traditional Leaders Day, organised by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), brought together chiefs, senior ZNA officers, government officials, and hundreds of residents to discuss joint development priorities, distribute farming inputs and grocery hampers, and reflect on the evolving role of traditional leadership in Zimbabwe’s rural transformation.

Army officials presented updates on infrastructure and social-service projects the ZNA has supported in Masvingo — including clinic and school construction — and reaffirmed their commitment to the Vision 2030 national development agenda. Major-General Asher Tapfumaneyi urged chiefs to work with the army on tackling community challenges such as drug abuse among youth, health access, and education.

“We work closely with traditional leaders to identify and address community needs,” said Major-General Tapfumaneyi. “Our shared goal is to build stronger, more self-reliant rural communities.”

Chiefs at the event described the gathering as a working forum rather than a ceremonial occasion, noting that it provides a platform to align local priorities with national policy. Initiatives such as the Zunde raMambo food-reserve scheme, which supports vulnerable households, were spotlighted as examples of practical collaboration. Chiefs Neshuro and Chilonga highlighted how the meeting fosters trust and long-term planning for livelihoods and disaster resilience.

“The event used to be held at 4 Infantry Brigade, but now we take it to the people,” said Chief Chitanga, Masvingo Chiefs Council chairperson, noting the symbolic significance of holding the event at a chief’s homestead to enhance direct community engagement.

Traditional leaders received agricultural inputs and grocery hampers aimed at improving household food security and supporting the Zunde scheme. Government representatives and senators praised the partnership, describing it as an extension of post-independence civic cooperation that advances rural industrialisation and service delivery.

Local NGOs and traditional-governance networks noted a modernising shift in chieftainship, with training initiatives encouraging chiefs to adopt digital record-keeping, community planning, and transparent administration to strengthen their coordination with the state and ZNA.

The ZNA–traditional leadership alliance draws from a historic liberation-era relationship and continues today through development projects in health, education, and agriculture. Provincial leaders say formalising these ties ensures that national development policy translates into tangible rural benefits, building resilience against challenges like drought, unemployment, and migration.