adminIvan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
THE delays in the appointment of a new chief have been attributed to family squabbles and differences.
There have been high reported cases of chieftainship wrangles countrywide recently.
This comes after elders in Chirumhanzu chieftainship expressed concern over the delay of installation of a substantive chief despite having forwarded their nominated candidate to the provincial chief’s council and the provincial development co-ordinator’s office.
Speaking in Parliament last week, deputy minister of Local Government and Public Works Marian Chombo said the delay in getting a new chief takes time because of family conflicts.
“As a Ministry we do not have the mandate to pick chiefs and we are not involved in terms of who should become chief. Some will say that the spirit mediums have to play a role and some say that the first born child should become chief. So, it depends on the family and in most cases, there are misunderstandings and conflicts within the family and that is what delays the process of the coming in of a new chief,” she said.
Deputy Minister Chombo said as a Ministry, they do not have the right to choose a successor and the name of the person who will succeed the chief comes from the Chief’s Council.
“There is what is known as the Provincial Chief’s Council. It has the mandate because once they decide on who should succeed the late chief, the name of the incumbent chief should go to the Provincial Coordinator and it should go to the Provincial Chief’s Council and in most cases, three chiefs should go to attend to the matter. They will sit as an Electoral College and ensure that all procedures have been followed. They will ensure that the procedures that are supposed to be followed by the families have been done. After that they give us the name as a Ministry. We take that name to the President. So no one has the right to hold on to power.”
Deputy Minister Chombo said if the acting chief refused to hand over power there were stages that are taken for one to hand over power and no one can hold on to the throne without permission.
Chirumhanzu chieftaincy succession clan revolves around the 11 houses of Nherera and Simba. The Chirumhanzu royal families dare is a formal and organised representation of the heirs of the throne of Chief Chirumhanzu. A delegation of 35-member delegation of the royal families Dare recently visited the office of the Provincial Development Coordinator in Gweru seeking clarification if there were any procedural reasons for the delay.
Chairperson of the Chirumhanzu chieftainship royal families Dare, Vincent Jumo said they have nominated Julius Chimbi Chigegwe of Nherera house to succeed as substantive chief Chirumhanzu following the death of former substantive chief, Jeral Mudzengi on February 5, 2019. Mr Jumo said the delay of the installation of a substantive chief is now disturbing the smooth facilitation of orderly functioning of traditional leaders and village heads.
“It has been four months after the expiration of the acting chief(Sarapavana) and the Chief’s Council is yet to meet to receive and confirm nominations for the new substantive chief as is required. Sub section 2 of 286 of the constitution of Zimbabwe provides the function of national and provincial chiefs council and their impartial operations to ensure fair and smooth facilitation of orderly function of traditional leaders. It is within this provision that the chieftaincy clan seeks the audience of the Midlands provincial Chief’s council chair, Chief Ngungumbane,” he said.
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