Story by Aifheli Mudau
THE Masera community in Beitbridge West officially installed Headman Makhado, restoring traditional leadership to the area after nearly two decades without a substantive headman and rekindling hopes for accelerated rural development and cultural preservation.
The installation ceremony, held at Mtshilashokwe on Sunday, drew community members, traditional leaders, government representatives and local stakeholders who gathered to witness the restoration of the Makhado family’s traditional leadership legacy.
The appointment ends a leadership vacuum that has existed since the death of the late Headman Benson Makhado in 2004, with community members expressing optimism that the new headman will provide direction and strengthen development initiatives in the area.
“It is more than two decades now without a Headman, and as a family today we are very much happy that as a family and a community we now have someone who is going to champion meaningful development in this area,” family spokesperson Mr Jabulani Makhado said.
Community leaders said the installation would help strengthen governance structures and improve coordination of local development programmes.
“It is good to have substantive leadership because he will provide direction for us as a community and, as of me as the Alderman and running Bishopstone Estate, I feel very honoured to be part of this gathering, and I will continue offering my support,” Alderman Mr Robert Parker said.
Political leaders attending the ceremony underscored the important role traditional leaders play in supporting government programmes and fostering community development.
“We are very happy, and now this new Headman is going to assist in implementing all government development programmes,” Beitbridge West legislator Honourable Thusani Ndou said.
“A place without a Headman is difficult to have meaningful development, but now that the Masera community has a Headman, a lot is going to happen, and as government, we will make sure we work together to bring development,” Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi said.
Officiating at the ceremony, Chief Tshitaudze, under whose jurisdiction the Makhado family falls, called for unity and collective responsibility as the community enters a new chapter of traditional leadership.
“This place has been without a Headman for quite a long time, and now we will be witnessing development in this area in terms of cultural preservation and rural development,” he said.
The newly installed third Headman Makhado, who was born in 1990, succeeds his late father, Headman Benson Makhado, whose death in 2004 left the position vacant.
The installation is expected to strengthen traditional governance structures, promote cultural heritage and support ongoing development efforts within the Masera community.
