Chiefs assembly struggles to resolve raging disputes
THE Masvingo Provincial Chiefs Assembly is struggling to resolve disputes involving three prominent chieftainships in the province amid reports that the body has no resources to dispatch task teams to settle the problems.
Three prominent Masvingo chieftainships namely Gutu, Mukanganwi and Ziki are yet to have substantive chiefs because of wrangling between families who are heirs to the thrones.
Mr Edmund Masanganise is currently acting as Chief Gutu following the death of his father Mr Anos Kasirai Masanganise who was the 21st substantive Chief Gutu. The late Chief Gutu died in 2013. Mr Godwin Tavaruva, first born son to prominent Masvingo bus operator Mr Tanda Tavaruva was in line to take over the chieftain-ships before his appointment was disputed by the Matonhedze family which is also a member of the Madyira clan.
In Bikita, haggling has also stalled the selection of the substantive Chief Ziki following the death of the incumbent Mr June Nedombwe in 2012.
The Mukanganwi chieftainship is also under dispute as some of the heirs to the throne are reportedly opposed to the selection of decorated war veteran Retired Major General Gibson Mashingaidze as the substantive Chief Mukanganwi.
The last Chief Mukanganwi, Mr Alfios Chinhanho died in August this year.
Masvingo Provincial Chiefs’ Assembly chairman Mr Felen Chauke said the disputes had affected appointment of substantive traditional leaders. Mr Chauke — the Chief Chitanga of Mwenezi — said the assembly was waiting for funds to dispatch teams to resolve the stand-off in the chieftain-ships.
“We have the Gutu chieftain-ships where we are going to dispatch another team to resolve the dispute over who should be the substantive Chief Gutu,” he said.
Chief Chitanga said: “In Bikita there is also a dispute over the Ziki chieftain-ship so a new substantive chief will only be installed after the families in the succession line have agreed on the suitable candidate.”
Chief Chitanga said appointment of Chief Mukanganwi was also being stalled by shortages of funds for teams to resolve the disputes.
“Once we get the required funds we will send teams on the ground because we want the selection of substantive chiefs to be transparent and controversy free,” he said.
Chief Chitanga said the disputes would be settled once Government avails the necessary funding.
He reiterated that the chiefs’ assembly would not bless a disputed chieftain-ship. Chief Chitanga said there must be unanimity among family members over the choice of an heir in the event of death of a substantive chief.
The Gutu chieftainship is arguably the most prominent in Masvingo province with the clan having strong links to President Mugabe’s mother the late Ambuya Bona Mugabe.
Ambuya Mugabe was a descendant of the Gumbo-Madyira family tree.
President Mugabe visited the Masanganise family a few years ago to pay his condolences after the death of the last substantive Chief Gutu who was his uncle.