Mashayamombe chieftainship wrangle rages on

THE 15-year wrangle over the Mashayamombe chieftainship in Mashonaland West is coming back to the boil with family members now likely to be at loggerheads over the family recommendation for the appointment of an interim chief.

Some members of the Mashayamombe clan said the district administrator for Chegutu Mr Tariro Tomu has accepted the recommendation for the appointment of a son to the late Ignatius Stephen Chiketa, Chief Mashayamombe, who succumbed to Covid19 complications in February this year at the age of 86.

However, Mr Tomu has denied unilaterally installing an interim chief, insisting that a recommendation for an acting chief who is yet to be approved came from some members of the Mashayamombe clan.

“I did not appoint, but it was a nominee provided by the family and the claims are a lie.

“The nominee is yet to be approved,” said Mr Tomu, before referring further questions to Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Josphat Jaji, who had not responded to questions sent to him yesterday.

The late Mr Chiketa’s chieftaincy had been consistently contested with some Mashayamombe clan members arguing he had improperly assumed the chieftaincy as it was not his house’s turn to take the post, but that of the Kawara house.

The Mashonaland West Chiefs Provincial Assembly agreed in 2019 when Mr Chiketa had been in the post for some years.

A letter to the then acting Provincial Development Coordinator Ms Cecilia Chitiyo from Mr Felix Chikovo, which was copied to the District Development Coordinator for Chegutu, outlined what the chiefs’ indaba had resolved.

“Pursuant to the Mashonaland West Chiefs Provincial Assembly meeting of 6 November 2019 where it was unanimously agreed that the appointment of Ignatius Stephen Chiketa violated the succession principles of the Mashayamombe chieftainship as pointed out by the Mashayamombe clan members, the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs recommended his removal from the office and post of substantive Chief Mashayamombe.

“In view of the foregoing, may you kindly facilitate the submission of the required memorandum for the removal of Ignatius Stephen Chiketa from the office of District Development Coordinator for Chegutu,” wrote Mr Chikovo.

Communication from the Mashayamombe family, a copy of which has been seen by The Herald, indicates that they have not nominated an interim chief and are awaiting the assistance of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works over their appeal to have the wrangle brought to an end.

It is the Mashayamombe family’s belief that the matter, which has dragged on for over 15 years now, needs to be brought to finality.

“Investigations held by Chief Zvimba (chair), Chief Chirau and Chief Nyamweda on 3 June 2019 factually and unanimously revealed that Mr Ignatius S. Chiketa’s appointment as Chief Mashayamombe was not procedural and that he was not the rightful heir to the throne.

“In the said meeting, the director of Chiefs Mr F. A Chikovo advised the house to make recommendations to the Minister for onward submission to the President on the position adopted,” said the letter.

It is understood that on February 11 this year, Mr Chikovo wrote to the Provincial Development Coordinator Ms Chitiyo and copied same on February 13 to PDC for Chegutu recommending that a memorandum for the removal of I.S Chiketa be prospered.

Many in the Mashayamombe family also contend that the family tree that had been in use before the late Chiketa assumed power, be followed with just four houses as it would resolve the issue.

The family tree states that Mashayamombe of Mhondoro, Dzete and Mhara-Mbuya, the indisputable elaboration which is true to date shows that the first chief was Karoka, who was succeeded by Chinamaringa, followed by Choshata, who specifically selected only four out of his many sons namely Kawara, Muzhuzha (Kakono/Chinengundu) and Bangira, to rotate in the order alluded to above.

It also shows their descendants who have been rotating the chieftainship until the last substantive Chief Lameki Bangira of the last house.

They also argue that there was no mention of families such as Maromo, Kanengoni or Chiketa’s son, among others, in the succession line for the Mashayamombe chieftainship.