adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
DAVID Cleopatra Sitauze, 22, has been installed as the 9th Chief Sitauze of Beitbridge district following a nine-year succession wrangle. Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage Minister Cde Abednico Ncube officially installed the chief at a colourful ceremony held at Chief Matibe’s homestead in Mpande area, about 90km west of Beitbridge Town, last Friday.
The then Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Ignatius Chombo, appointed Chief Sitauze to the throne in 2011. However, his appointment sparked controversy from some family members who claimed he did not have royal blood culminating in a series of legal battles between rival camps, which resulted in delays in his installation.
The new chief is son to the late Simon Mbedzi who was Pariti, the then chief’s eldest son. Simon predeceased his father which resulted in his son inheriting the chieftainship directly from his grandfather. David is studying Local Governance at Great Zimbabwe University.
Since the death of Pariti in 2005, family members have been locked in an acrimonious chieftainship wrangle.
Minister Ncube said traditional leaders play a leading role in safeguarding and promoting culture and tradition.
“In the same vein, the government therefore encourages chiefs to actively participate in developmental programmes as espoused by Zim-Asset. Chiefs are ex-officio members of rural district councils in their districts and we urge them to attend full council meetings,” said Minister Ncube.
Prior to his appointment David’s uncle, Muvhuso, was the acting Chief Sitauze. A fierce battle has been raging since Pariti’s death between the two rival camps, one group led by the late chief’s brother, Paul Sitauze, which rallied behind Muvhuso and a rival one led by Johnson Mbedzi, a descendant of the late chief’s brother Marema.
The late cult hero of the opposing side, Marema, was born with Matshavha and Mauda being sons of Diasikwa the man who started a bitter fight with Siturimani in the late 1930s.
The ceremony was attended by the deputy president of the Chiefs’ Council Mtshana Khumalo, Senator Tambudzani Mohadi, MP for Beitbridge West Cde Metrine Mudau and Zanu-PF Politburo member Aaron Maboyi-Ncube, officials from the Ministry of the Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Culture and Heritage, local councillors, headmen and government officials.
Online Reporter