Links between traditional leaders, municipality bolstered

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWAQWA – The roles of traditional leaders and the municipality are intertwined because both serve towards same goal of changing lives of community for better.
It is in the light of this that Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality executive mayor Conny Msibi has emphasised the need to magnify the role of traditional leaders, who are custodians of customs and culture and play a pivotal role in the preservation of heritage.

Msibi made this call during an imbozo aimed at strengthening relationships between traditional leaders and the district municipality at Phuthaditjhaba multi-purpose hall on Thursday, under the theme ‘Embracing and Deepening the Role of Traditional Leadership.

She said traditional leaders play a crucial role in the development of their communities because of their authority and proximity, and there is nothing that can be done without engaging them.

“We need to amplify chieftainship and support the chiefs so they can continue to preserve our culture. We grew up seeing the royal house as a busy place where people came and went for different reasons. Some just go there to get food while others would be there to bring gifts. But today without our support royal houses have become quiet and boring places. This is caused by lack of support from society. We must revive that culture of supporting our traditional leaders. Development programmes must be implemented in the area of traditional leadership,” Msibi emphasized.

Since traditional leaders are custodians of culture, Msibi proposed that culture education in schools would boost the knowledge of the new generation who need to know their heritage and embrace it.

Echoing these sentiments, the speaker of Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality Thabo Mokoena said traditional leaders, as leaders of the community, must always take part in the government programmes.
“They understand the needs and wishes of the community. Whatever projects or developments that are implemented in our communities, we must first engage the traditional leadership to find out from them what developments they want to happen.”
At the same occasion, Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality executive mayor Gilbert Mokotso thanked all the people who joined the district‘s imbizo and used the platform to promote tourism.

“We have beautiful mountains; this is a tourist attraction area especially our Thabo Mofutsanyana district. We will appreciate it if you come back and spend your holidays here,” he told guests.