By Princess Eugene Majuru
Following his historic appointment to the Senate representing Manicaland, Chief Coen Simbayi Gwasirai Makoni has unveiled an ambitious, transformative vision. His blueprint aims to fundamentally redefine the economic and social standing of traditional leaders and their communities. Speaking directly about his new legislative and provincial mandate, Senator Chief Makoni who spoke to News of The South emphasized that true cultural preservation must be backed by economic independence, modern agricultural industrialization, and targeted educational empowerment.
Industrializing the Chieftainships: Mines, Farms, and Forests
At the core of Chief Makoni’s senatorial vision is the firm belief that traditional leaders should not be passive spectators in the extraction of wealth from their ancestral lands. Instead, he advocates for a structured model where every traditional leader is a direct beneficiary and custodian of local economic resources.
To achieve this self-reliance, his vision for Manicaland introduces a multi-sectoral approach for each chief’s area:
Mining Rights: Chief Makoni asserts that traditional leaders should hold ownership or direct stakes in mining concessions within their jurisdictions. This ensures that resource extraction actively funds community development rather than solely enriching external entities.
Commercial Forestry: Recognizing the lush, fertile landscape of Manicaland, his blueprint dictates that every chief must have a dedicated, protected forest area. These woodlands will be managed sustainably to provide independent financial returns for the chieftainship.
Mechanized Agriculture: Moving away from subsistence farming, the Senator envisions a fully equipped, modern commercial farm for every chief. These farms will serve as regional agricultural hubs, ensuring food security and generating sustainable income to support local traditional structures.
Elevating the Royal Household: Large-Scale Projects for Chiefs’ Wives
A ground-breaking pillar of Chief Makoni’s agenda focuses heavily on the economic emancipation of the wives of traditional leaders. He notes that the development of a community is incomplete without the financial empowerment of the matriarchs who hold these communities together.
Rather than endorsing minor, small-scale backyard projects, Chief Makoni is aiming for massive, commercial-grade enterprises. He intends to source substantial financial backing and international funding to launch aggressive agro-industrial initiatives specifically managed by the chiefs’ wives:
Mass Poultry Production: The vision completely rejects minor farming setups. Instead, it targets large-scale poultry operations starting with a minimum of 15,000 chickens per project, introducing high-volume commercial supply chains to rural areas.
Commercial Piggery: Alongside poultry, large-scale piggery projects will be established to position the royal households as leading meat producers within the province.
Bridging the Educational Gap: Functional Literacy and Accounting
Recognizing that large-scale commercial enterprises require precise management, Chief Makoni addressed a critical, often-ignored reality: the educational disparities faced by some rural matriarchs. To protect and sustain these investments, he is calling for specialized, targeted educational programs for the chiefs’ wives, particularly those who missed out on formal schooling.
His vision calls for immediate development in:
Functional Literacy: Tailored adult literacy programs to ensure absolute independence in communication and documentation.
Basic Accounting and Mathematics: Practical financial training to master bookkeeping, understand profit-and-loss margins, and manage large-scale corporate finances seamlessly.
A New Era for Traditional Governance
Senator Chief Makoni’s vision marks a shift from traditional leaders acting merely as cultural figureheads to becoming active economic drivers. By arming chiefs with mines, forests, and farms, and empowering their wives through massive agricultural industries and business literacy, this blueprint aims to secure an independent, prosperous future for Manicaland’s royal lineages and the communities they serve.
Princess Eugene Majuru is a Cultural Heritage Sovereign Custodian, Historian, Archivist, and Sovereign Heritage Advocate.
Comments
About Author
