The institution of traditional leadership and party politics in Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2015: a case of Zibagwe rural district (Zhombe)

Abstract

Traditional leadership institution is one of the most important and respected institution in the rural communities and at national level because of their unifying nature. It is therefore the objective of the institution to serve the community fairly without favoritism or discrimination. The institution unlike the elected officials tends not to serve a certain group of people but the whole community despite political affiliations or background of subjects. Through the above mentioned objective it is therefore the function of the institution to treat all people equally. However it has been an outcry and complains about the functioning of the institution which is condemned of being hampered by political interference which has forced the institution to be aligned to a certain political grouping in the country. It is the aim of this research to dig and reveal the real truth about the outcry of lack of independence of traditional leadership. The research would be mainly qualitative in nature and targeting a specific case study. The research would be done in Zhombe in Kwekwe District. The research targets traditional leaders, political parties’ leadership at local level, civil society groups and the Ministry of local Government. These people have been selected because they are the relevant people with the information under investigation. After the obtaining of results of the study recommendations and other suggestions on improving the independence of would be proposed to help responsible authorities with relevant information.