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George Maponga in Masvingo
A fierce row has erupted over the selection of a new Chief Nyakunhuwa in Zaka with the provincial chiefs’ assembly struggling to reconcile warring families involved in a tug of war to assume the chieftainship.
The Nyakunhuwa chieftainship was left vacant following the death of the last substantive Chief Jerera Mashavave in 2016. His son Courage Mashavave is currently acting chief as five of the six families in the successful tree haggle over who should be the new chief.
The tug of war has delayed the appointment of a new substantive chief with the acting Chief Mashavave having supposed to a abdicate the throne two years after acting to pave way for a substantive chief.
The fight has sucked in the provincial chiefs’ assembly which has failed to break the stalemate on three different occasions in the past.
Five families in the succession line namely Mutonhori, Mutsvangwa, Mututuvare, Murembwa and Machingambi have now ganged up to opppose the election of a new substantive chief from the Baramhanza family.
The five families allege the Baramhanza family want to illegitimately sneak themselves in the Nyakunhuwa chieftainship as they are not direct descendants of the founding chief Nyakunhuwa.
According to the families, the founding chief had five sons only meaning there are only five houses, which exclude Baramhanza, that should rotate to assume the chieftainship.
Masvingo provincial chiefs’ assembly chair Chief Chitanga (Mr Felani Chauke) confirmed the row over the Nyakunhuwa chieftainship.
He expressed confidence that the chiefs’ assembly would resolve the row.
“We have sent teams to resolve the problem on four different occasions in the past to break the impasse and we are now waiting for a report from the last team. We hope from that report, we will be able to make a final determination of who should the new substantive Chief Nyakunhuwa,” said Chief Chitanga.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic induced-lockdown had stifled progress to resolve the wrangle saying a final ruling will be made after relaxation of lockdown regulations.
The Nyakunhuwa chieftainship is assumed by members of the Shumba totem clan who settled in north western parts of Zaka in the 20th century.
Online Reporter