Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
CHIEFS from Matabeleland South have been left in shock and deep mourning after the untimely death of Chief Marupi of Gwanda.
Chief Marupi died on Sunday evening at Healthpoint Hospital in Harare after a short illness.
At 28 years old, Chief Marupi was one of the province’s youngest chiefs and had already made an impact on his community with his passion for development and dedication to upholding traditional values.
Chief Masuku of Gwanda District expressed his sadness at the passing away of the young chief.
“His death has left a huge gap for us as traditional leaders. We expected a lot from him as he was still young but unfortunately, his life has been cut short.
“It’s never easy to lose young people as they are the future,” he said.
“Chief Marupi had embraced his role of being a chief at a tender age. He had embraced spearheading development and being a custodian of traditional values and norms.”
Chief Bango from Mangwe District said the death of Chief Marupi was a huge loss to the community and the entire province.
He said many development programmes are being spearheaded by chiefs and Chief Marupi’s death means that his community will be affected.
Chief Bango said many years had been put into grooming Chief Marupi who was installed in 2012 but officially assumed office in 2014.
“I’m still shocked by the sad news of the passing on of Chief Marupi. He had served officially for 10 years and with each day, he was gaining more experience,” said Chief Bango.
“His departure is a huge setback for the community and the traditional leaders’ fraternity, as we have lost someone who had experience. The community will now have to start afresh.”
Chief Kgwatalala also mourned the loss, saying the district was now poorer as a result of Chief Marupi’s departure, adding that he had exuded maturity in his role as a chief over the years.”
Born Oaheng Nare, Chief Marupi was installed as a minor in 2012, taking over officially in 2014 when he turned 18.
He was following in the footsteps of his father, Lawrence Nare, who had also been a chief until his death in 2008.
The Marupi chieftainship dates back to a man called Daueatswala, of the Babirwa tribe and has a rich and complex history.
The Babirwa comprised the Kalanga and Venda when it crossed the Shashe River from Botswana.
Daueatswala was succeeded by Makhure, whose eldest son Makale succeeded him.
During Makale’s reign, the tribe moved to the Gubadu area near the confluence of Shashani and Shashe rivers in Botswana.
When Makale died, Silike took over and the tribe crossed Shashe River again and settled in Nehaka Makhure, Dibilashaba.
Silike was killed by Ndebele warriors, an act condemned by King Lobengula, who summoned Mbulutsi to Bulawayo and installed him as the new chief.
Mbulutsi was succeeded by Marupi, but when he died in 1943, his son was too young and physically challenged to succeed him and a headman’s son acted for a year before he also died.
Marapela, the young brother to Marupi, took over until he died in 1974 and the chieftainship reverted to the Makhure house.
Mtateho, the eldest son of Makhure, ruled from 1976 to 1991 when he was relieved of his duties. His eldest son Lawrence Silike Nare succeeded him in 1994 until he died in 2008. He was then succeeded by Oaheng. — @DubeMatutu
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