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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
Chieftainship wrangles are continuing to cause headaches for authorities in Mashonaland Central Province, with about 12 chiefs out of 26 still acting, some for long periods.
Addressing chiefs in Bindura recently, provincial chiefs council chairman Chief Nembire said the selection process was now difficult because other chiefs had been acting for close to 15 years. He said there was no peace in the province because of the wrangles.
Mashonaland Central uses the collateral inheritance system in the appointment of chiefs under which the chieftainship is passed from one family to the other.
When a chief dies, a family member is selected to act for two years to pave way for traditional processes of choosing a substantive chief and their installation.
If clan members continue to disagree on a successor, it delays the installation of a substantive chief. One case is that of Chief Negomo, who has been acting since July 7, 2010 following the death of his father in January 2008.
In such cases, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works is allowed to recommend to the President to appoint a candidate from the clan.
Chief Nembire said chiefs in the province were not happy with the situation and implored families of acting chiefs to respect the collateral system of inheritance.
“The problem we are facing now is that we are focusing on the selection process for chiefs who have been acting for only two years, yet we have some who has been acting for about 15 years,” he said.
“The procedure and tradition of selecting and installing chiefs is the same. Once the family has agreed on a candidate, they bring the name to the provincial assembly and I then take it to the national assembly for adoption.
“From there, the name is taken to the President and he signs.
“If family members disagree over the chieftainship, the matter is referred back to the national assembly.”
The province has lost seven chiefs in recent times, including Chiefs Bepura, Chisunga, Masembura, Nyamaropa, Dotito, Madziwa and Chapoto.
The chiefs who have been acting for less than two years are Bepura, Chapoto, Chisunga, Madziwa and Nyamaropa.
The process for the selection of chief Masembura who died in 2017 has begun.
The other acting chiefs are Dotito, Chiweshe Muzezuru and Kasekete.
Online Reporter