DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2016.v04i09.019

Pages: 1086-1115

The study looked at the role of traditional leaders in economic development in Marondera Rural District with emphasis on infrastructural development. The objectives of the study were basically to explore the role of traditional leaders in economic development as well as examining the extent to which the Zimbabwean Government had integrated the traditional leadership institution in existing development structures. The qualitative research design was used in the study. Random sampling was also used to select the fifty participants in Marondera Rural District for the study which was generally descriptive. Data was gathered through qualitative methods such as questionnaires and interviews. The collected data was analyzed qualitatively and presented in pie charts, tables, figures using frequencies and percentages. Findings indicated that traditional leaders played quite a number of roles in economic development in the rural areas. These include mobilizing the communities in development projects and programmes, local governance, settling family disputes, performing traditional rituals and ceremonies, presiding over community courts, land allocation and the general development of their respective areas as well as politicization of the local people. Traditional leaders were generally found to be the entry point of development projects and programmes in the rural areas. The study gave quite a number of recommendations which included the involvement and participation of traditional leaders in economic development. Successful rural development entails the active participation of traditional leaders in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of infrastructural projects in the rural areas. The study further recommended the enhancement of the traditional leadership institution through capacity building of the traditional leaders through relevant training and development.