Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A MAN from Harare, who styled himself as “King Munhumutapa” with supposed powers to appoint and dethrone traditional chiefs across Zimbabwe, has been convicted of undermining the authority of the President.
Timothy Chiminya is set to be sentenced today by Harare provincial magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai.
Chiminya claimed that his title and authority were conferred by a spirit medium, allegedly empowering him to install and remove traditional leaders.
However, the court found his actions unlawful and in breach of the Zimbabwean Constitution and the Traditional Leaders Act, which vests such authority solely in the President.
During mitigation, Chiminya’s lawyer, Mr Gift Mutisi, argued that his client was a first-time offender who had fully complied with all bail conditions.
He pleaded for leniency, requesting a non-custodial sentence.
However, prosecutor Ms Dzidzai Josiah strongly opposed this, arguing that Chiminya’s behaviour demonstrated high moral culpability.
She contended that his claims of being the “King of Zimbabwe and Emperor of Africa” posed a direct challenge to the authority of the President and warranted a custodial sentence to deter any similar actions in the future.
Ms Josiah argued that a non-custodial sentence would be too lenient given the gravity of the offence.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works filed a formal complaint against Chiminya, leading to his arrest.
The court heard that in February last year, Chiminya visited Chief Seke’s homestead in Dema and declared that the chief had been “dethroned”.
He then installed Masimba Rubatika as the new Chief Seke.
Further investigations revealed that between June 11 and October 31 of the same year, Chiminya unlawfully appointed three additional chiefs in Chirumhanzu and Zaka without any legal authority.
These appointments included Julius Chimbi as Chief Chigwegwe, Hama Piki as another chief in Chirumhanzu, and Chief Nyakunhuwa in Zaka, Masvingo Province.
Chief Chimanike, the traditional Chief Seke, reported Chiminya’s actions to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in June, sparking the legal proceedings.
