Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
THE Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has stepped in to address a simmering traditional boundary dispute in Chipinge District, where some chiefs are allegedly refusing to recognise the revived Ngungunyana chieftainship and encroaching into its jurisdiction, creating confusion among communities.
Local Government and Public Works Minister, Honourable Daniel Garwe, said on Wednesday that Government is working on a programme to resolve the impasse before the end of May, ensuring contested communities can live in peace under clearly defined traditional leadership.
Speaking at the funeral of the late Manicaland Chiefs Council chairman, Senator Lovemore Anias Mapungwana, at Mt Selinda, Minister Garwe, said Government is reviving all chieftainships abolished during colonial rule and will ensure equal recognition of traditional leaders by restoring their areas of jurisdiction.
Tensions in Chipinge have escalated following the revival of the Ngungunyana chieftainship, with some chiefs reportedly refusing to acknowledge its existence and encroaching into its territory. This has left villagers uncertain about which traditional authority to report to.
Much of the contested Ngungunyana area falls within the territory previously under the late Chief Mapungwana.
“My last conversation with the late Chief Mapungwana was in Maphisa during the 46th Independence Day celebrations, discussing the issue of traditional boundaries in Chipinge District as Government intends to settle these issue before the end of May 2026. Whether one is under Chief Mapungwana or Ngungunyana, we are all Zimbabweans, and there is no foreigner. The current boundary disputes are a result of colonialism, but we can solve them. I will dispatch a team in May to address this matter once and for all. Traditional leadership, under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is being accorded its due recognition and respect, and we do not expect any deviation. Before colonialism, there were no councils, cities, mayors or judges. We only had traditional leaders, hence the decision to give them proper and due recognition.
“All chieftainships abolished during colonialism will be revived by Government, including those who were suppressed and sidelined. Traditional leaders work hand-in-glove with Government, and they have primary courts in their communities. Government is working hard to address and improve their welfare through programmes such as Zunde RaMambo. Chiefs are the custodians of our tradition, customs and beliefs,” said Minister Garwe.
The re-established Ngungunyana chieftainship shares boundaries with chiefs Mapungwana, Mutema, Musikavanhu and Muusha, prompting protests from some of them, alleging that the chieftaincy has annexed their areas, making it the biggest territory in the district.
In an interview, Chief Ngungunyana welcomed Government’s decision to re-look into the boundary dispute, arguing that his clan stands to benefit as some of its land, including the site where its ancestors are buried is under Chief Mapungwana.
“I do not have a problem with Government coming to address the issue of boundaries. We thought the issue was settled, but Chief Mapungwana approached Government challenging the land allocated to me. From the 26 village heads under Chief Mapungwana, I was only allocated 10, and I was fine with that. This is despite the fact that the sacred place where our ancestors are buried remained under Chief Mapungwana, including the remains of the chief, whose spirit was instrumental in fighting for the resuscitation of our chieftainship. During the negotiations, we made several concessions and we thought the issue was over. We do not have any challenges with chiefs Musikavanhu, Mutema and Muusha – we co-exist,” said Chief Ngungunyana. Chief Musikavanhu said they are looking up to Government to finalise the issue and allow each affected traditional leader to air their views.
“We were seven traditional leaders before, and related so well as our boundaries were very clear. We were not consulted when the Ngungunyana chieftaincy was revived and allocated land. We were only told that there are new boundaries. We opted to remain silent when our land was being annexed to them. They keep taking our land, and what is annoying is that they are even claiming that my homestead is in their area. How is that possible? Only proper consultations will resolve these disputes. We do not have problems accommodating other people, but we have reservations over the manner the process is being done. We respect our national leaders and believe they have a permanent solution to this bitter impasse,” said Chief Musikavanhu.
Efforts to get a comment from chiefs Muusha and Mutema were fruitless as their mobile phones were not reachable by the time of going to Press.
Meanwhile, Minister Garwe described the late Chief Mapungwana as a patriotic leader who worked hard for the development of his community, and dismissed social media allegations that the Government did not take care of him when he fell ill while attending the Independence Day celebrations in Maphisa.
“The late chief understood development through supporting Government programmes. He was a father figure to the Mapungwana community who facilitated linkages between his community and Government. As Government, we are committed to ensure the dignity of our chiefs. To illustrate that, the late Senator Chief was a gallant son of the soil, he fell ill soon after attending the 2026 Independence Day celebrations in Maphisa, Matabeleland South,” said Minister Garwe.
