Traditional chiefs have the right to belong to any political party and the amendment of the Traditional Chiefs Act is not motivated by any political agenda, Local Government Minister July Moyo has said.
Addressing the media during a post-Cabinet briefing Minister Moyo highlighted that the Act aims at aligning the Constitution with what was approved by Zimbabweans in 2013.

“Chiefs are like everybody else, they have the right to freedom of association which is captured in some parts of the Constitution like Section 58:67 and we are not appointing chiefs based on political persuation.

“We are appointing them based on the customary law of the area, their traditions and that selection and discipline is now done by other chiefs and not government.”

“There have been a number of chieftainships that had been abolished by the colonial regime for supporting the First Chimurenga or liberation icons like Mbuya Nehanda and those need to be resuscitated.
“History tells us that there were proper chiefs that where abolished for supporting the war and these are proper chiefs and they need to be resuscitated but in the current Act it does not spell out how it should be done and that needs to be brought into the new proposals.”

Turning to the remuneration of Chiefs Minister Moyo said it was not quite spelt out in the Constitution before but now it is.

“We have to make sure we align with what the Constitution says so that at the National Council of Chiefs and the National Assembly of Chiefs they will be receiving salaries that are coming from the consolidated revenue fund as is allowable in the Constitution” he added.

The Act also aims at bringing into play the Ethics and Integrity Committee which is in the Constitution but not existing in the present translation of the Traditional Leaders Act, among other key elements.