The newly installed traditional leader of Thengwe-Matshetshete village, Vhamusanda Godfrey Tshisikhawe Makhado, said he would continue to fight hard to win the battle for clean and consistent drinking water, which remained a serious problem in his village.
"I will not rest until my communities get clean water from their taps. I want to engage with the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) on how rural communities could get clean water. I also want to call an imbizo at the village to talk about crime and how we can make our communities safer," said Makhado.
Makhado was installed as the village's new traditional leader on Saturday (17th). During the ceremony, Shumani Makhado was named ndumi, while Daphne Makhado was named khadzi.
The rural village of Thengwe-Matshetshete, in the Thengwe Tribal Council in Mutale, had been without a traditional leader for almost nine years, following the death of Vhamusanda Thivhileli Makhado in 2013. The village was ruled by the acting traditional leader until now.
During the ceremony, Thovhele Vudzidzhena Nethengwe urged Vhamusanda Makhado to treat his people with respect, steer the village in the right direction and develop his communities for the better. "You have taken an oath that you will work with all your abilities to develop the Mangaya village. I urge you to be my eyes and to report all challenges and development in Matshetshete. The communities in your village from now have someone whom they can consult, and who can report their grievances regarding service delivery," said Thovhele Nethengwe.
In turn, he said, the communities should give their new traditional leader much-needed support and respect, so that he can start his work as leader without difficulties.