The Government has officially installed Mr Petros Murombe Mahwekwe as the second substantive Chief Bere, restoring a chieftainship that was dismantled by colonial authorities after the original chief was executed for resisting occupation.
The colourful ceremony, held at Chidzikwe High School on Saturday, was presided over by Local Government and Public Works Minister Hon Daniel Garwe, who said traditional leadership was critical to community development.
High-level dignitaries attended, including Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Ezra Chadzamira, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Hon Al Mavunga, National Chiefs’ Council President Sen Mtshane Khumalo, his deputy Sen Fortune Charumbira, and numerous traditional leaders from across the country.
Minister Garwe traced the rich and painful history of the Bere chieftainship, recounting how the original Chief Bere fiercely resisted colonial occupation during the Anglo-Ndebele War before being captured and executed.
The colonial regime later dismantled the chieftainship.
The Second Republic revived it in 2018 as part of broader efforts to restore cultural heritage and traditional governance systems.
Chief Bere, born in 1938 in Mashava, assumes leadership from the Makamure house under the Bere lineage’s rotational system. At 88 years old, he brings decades of life experience as a farmer and community member.
His installation was widely welcomed as a restoration of identity and unity among the Bere people, many of whom were displaced across districts such as Chivi during the colonial era.
Minister Garwe applauded key infrastructure achievements in Masvingo District since Independence, including schools, health facilities, irrigation schemes and water projects.
He called for increased focus on value addition in mining, irrigation development and village business units to improve livelihoods in drought-prone regions.
The ceremony also reinforced the role of traditional leaders in upholding cultural values, resolving disputes and supporting development. Leaders urged communities to unite behind Chief Bere.
Speakers warned against social ills such as drug and substance abuse, particularly among youths, and called for the preservation of Zimbabwean values rooted in Ubuntu and respect for tradition.
The event concluded with celebrations and messages of unity, as the Bere community and attending leaders pledged their support for the newly installed chief marking a renewed chapter in the history of the Bere chieftainship.
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