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Midlands Correspondent
ZION Christian Church (ZCC) Mutendi leader, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, has described President Robert Mugabe as a God given leader.
Speaking at the installation of Chief Jetro Mutendi, who is also his brother, at the church’s Defe-Dopota shrine in Gokwe yesterday, Bishop Mutendi said Zimbabweans were fortunate to have such a unique leader.
He said President Mugabe defied all odds by empowering his people economically through the land reform and other indigenisation programmes.
“According to the Bible, leaders are chosen by God. Our President is a God given leader that is why he has so much respect for the people of Zimbabwe. He has given us land so that we would have total control of our resources,” he said.

Bishop Mutendi said it was President Mugabe’s visionary leadership that enabled Zimbabwe to become one of the economically independent nations in Africa.
He said President restored status and dignity of traditional chiefs after their powers were stripped off by colonialists.

“His wisdom comes from God. That is why he has also earned respect. We now have land and chiefs and other traditional leaders now have their freedom,” he said.
Bishop Mutendi said chiefs must not abuse their powers as traditional leaders but should complement government in ensuring that there was peace in their respective communities.

He urged Chief Mutendi to abide by the country’s laws as well as respect his own subjects.
“Now that my brother has been installed as the new Chief in this area, I urge him to maintain good relations with other traditional leaders in and outside Gokwe.

“That way you earn yourself respect. Chiefs are custodians of culture, environment as well as other resources within their jurisdiction. We expect a chief to be guided by the law and also to be God fearing,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, President of the Chief’s Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, said Chiefs must have control over local resources.
He bemoaned chieftainship wrangles saying they were retrogressive and counterproductive.

“We have not heard that the Mutendi family fought for this chieftainship. They are a united family. This is what we expect from all families in the lineage of chieftainship.

“We must not fight over chieftainship as we have witnessed in some areas where brothers or relatives fight over chieftainship,” he said.