Chief Ndube of Insiza, One of Zimbabwe’s Few Female Chiefs, Dies Young at 40

Chief Ndube, One Of Zimbabwe’s Few Female Chiefs Dies Young At 40

Chief Ndube of Insiza, one of Zimbabwe’s rare female traditional leaders, has died at the age of 40.

The news was confirmed on 6 June 2025 by the Acting Director of Local Government, Mr Jusa Zachariah.

“It is with deep sorrow that we confirm the passing of Chief Ndube of Insiza. She died at the age of 40. Further details will be released in due course,” said Mr Zachariah.

Chief Ndube, born Nonhlanhla Sibanda, was installed as chief following the death of her father, Chief Andrew Sibanda. Her appointment was a significant step in a country where traditional leadership is predominantly male.

No cause of death has been publicly announced yet, and funeral arrangements are still pending.

Chief Ndube is survived by her children and extended family.

Her passing marks the end of a significant chapter not only in Matabeleland South but also in the story of female leadership in Zimbabwe.

A trailblazer in traditional leadership

Chief Ndube was among a small group of female chiefs in Zimbabwe. According to the President of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira:

“In Zimbabwe currently, we have five female chiefs out of a total of 286 chiefs,” Charumbira told Southern Eye in a 2018 interview.

“That is the pattern in other countries in Africa. In some, there is not even one female chief.”

Her leadership was seen by many as a breakthrough for gender equality in traditional institutions.

Push for more women in chieftainship

Her death comes amid ongoing calls for governments in the Southern African region to promote the inclusion of women in leadership roles.

At the 2018 SADC People’s Summit held in Windhoek, Namibia, female delegates called on regional leaders to dismantle gender barriers in traditional and developmental spaces.

“We note with concern the exclusion of women in developmental processes and traditional leadership,” read a communiqué from the Southern African People’s Solidarity Network (SAPSN).

“We are also outraged by customary land distribution patterns that predicate women’s access to land.”

Chief Ndube’s role had therefore symbolised more than just tradition — she represented the growing voice of women in spaces historically closed off to them.

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