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THE Makoni dynasty’s courageous decision to censure and expose the true lineage and character of Cde Didymus Mutasa as a “bullish and gluttonous” nephew bent on abusing political power to wrestle their throne has been endorsed by the clan’s daughters (Vazvare). The Makoni clan is unique in that it gives equal power and status to its daughters, who are affectionately known as vazvare.
The vazvares said the decision by the council of elders, belatedly though, was a correct one.
The elders led by Chief Makoni last Friday stabbed a knife into Cde Mutasa, saying all along he has been masquerading as Nyati of the Makoni clan, yet he was “a nephew and not of royal blood”.
“We have reached the tipping point and it is best to unmask who he really is. His actions are tarnishing our image. Those listening to him believe all he has been saying all along that he is a Nyati.
“That is not true, Didymus Mutasa is a nephew. He is not of royal blood but wanted to abuse his political power to grab the throne,” said Chief Makoni.
The vazvares, who spoke to The Manica Post, said the stance by elders to disown Cde Mutasa was correct.
They added that it was better to be divided by truth than to be united in error.
Mrs Gracious Ruhukwa-Muponda, a rural businesswoman at Chinyudze Business Centre in Makoni North, on Monday said it was better to stand alone with the truth, than to be wrong with a multitude.
She disclosed that Cde Mutasa and his late brother, John, were her late aunt’s sons, a revelation that disqualifies them from being Nyatis of the Makoni clan.
The name Mutasa was derived from a suitor who allegedly rejected paternity.
“The truth hurts and then heals. It is better than a lie that comforts and then kills. Didymus Mutasa is my late aunt’s son, which makes him a nephew to the Makonis.
“He is not a Makoni by name or totem. Just like my children, he is a nephew. A nephew cannot assume the same totem as his uncles,” explained Mrs Ruhukwa-Muponda.
“His brother, John, used to pay me homage when he was still alive. They know this truth and it was in that capacity he visited me. I symbolise their mother.
“There was going to be a point when the truth was to be told.
“They might hate the elders for telling the truth, but it is better than to be loved for telling a lie,” added Mrs Ruhukwa-Muponda.
She referred further questions to family elder, Mr Alfred Ruhukwa, who only confirmed being constantly in touch with “my nephews”.
He, however, refused to discuss finer details of their relationship.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Mandi Chimene said the clarification was justified as the dynasty’s name had been dragged into the mud.
“This is what you get when you become unscrupulous. As vazvares, we have a responsibility to tell our children the truth about their genealogy. During the war there was Nyati, a fake one who sold out in Mozambique, and now we have Didymus, who is soiling our image. We are being viewed as quislings and we are at the crossroads and the truth must be told.
“It is better to ultimately die with the truth than to live with a lie,” said Cde Chimene.
Cde Mutasa all along claimed to be a Makoni or a Nyati.
It is claimed that Cde Mutasa is descendant of one Matambura, a male born of a female sibling (Marutse) of the family of Chigudu, of the Zendera house.
The Makoni clan stems from its great grandfather, Gunguwo, who had five sons — Fusire, Muswati, Zendera, Nyamanhindi and Nyakurukwa.
Marutse was a sister to Zendera, who was allegedly killed in 1840.
After his death, Marutse and Zendera’s children were scattered in Mapore and other parts of Mutasa.
Another elder, Sekuru Muswere, said Mutasa almost grabbed the throne through chicanery.
“He is cunning. They had already paid five cattle to the spirit medium Chiendambuya so that his preferred candidate, Topira Mutasa, be dedicated to the ancestors as the new chief.
“I am the one who should give the spirit medium the rightful chief, and forced the annulment of Topira’s dedication.
“This is how unscrupulous these nephews of ours are. Vazukuru vane undyire,” said the grey-haired Sekuru Muswere.
Cde Mutasa wanted to impose Topira, who is his late brother John’s son.
The interference was resisted by the likes of Moses Gwasira, Thomas Vhunduke Gwasira and Makoni District Administrator, Mr William Mashava.
Mutasa was working with a self-claimed installer and fire kindler of the Makoni dynasty, one Paradzai Mukuwapasi.
Mukuwapasi wrote several letters to Mr Mashava at the instigation of Mutasa to fast-track the ascendency of Rungutai to the throne.
Rungutai serves as the Headlands constituency political commissar.
Mutasa dispatched Mukuwapasi to Mr Mashava’s office to fast-track the process on numerous occasions, but the move suffered a still birth as the dynasty elders argued that the Mutasas were not on the family tree, and therefore not of loyal blood.
Mrs Betty Makoni-Nyamapfeni said there was nothing amiss about telling someone their genealogy as long as the motive was not to score political goals.
She said the council of elders must have summoned Cde Mutasa to the chief’s court for proper orientation before going megaphone.
“Our founding father embraced everyone as a child whether daughter of muzvare or Nyati or even of Musanganwa.
“Our tribe is one where women were given royal titles and female members who got married moved to live with Chief Makoni.
“We pride ourselves with power accorded women in Makoni. Whether born by Nyati or Muzvare you are with equal status.
“If there are issues to raise with anyone, please call them to Dare and we are all aware our Dare is a good platform to resolve issues,” said Muzvare Makoni.
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