King Munhumutapa's son arrested

Rest Chiduku, son of self-proclaimed King Munhumutapa, born Timothy Chiminya, has been arrested in Bulawayo for allegedly masquerading as a government official and commissioner. Chiduku was reportedly apprehended after visiting shops and bars, claiming to check licenses and collecting money under false pretenses.

The arrest comes amid controversy over Chiduku's recent appointment as Bulawayo provincial organising secretary, a move that led to the dismissal of Mandla Nkomo, a former commissioner, and Chief Bekezela Bhekimpi Nyathi, Chiminya's former spokesperson. Nkomo and Nyathi had challenged Chiduku's appointment, accusing the king of tribalism and nepotism.

Police arrested Chiduku after receiving reports of a "suspicious character" claiming to represent the government. Photos of Chiduku in handcuffs were shared on the Zanu-PF Youth League's Facebook page, warning the public to beware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as government officials. "Here is one who claims to be a commissioner, going around checking licenses in shops and bars," the post read.

When contacted, Bulawayo provincial acting police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said she was yet to receive details of the arrest.

Nkomo and Nyathi, who had played key roles in building support for Chiminya's monarchial claims, expressed delight over Chiduku's arrest, seeing it as vindication after their dismissal. Nkomo, in particular, accused Chiminya of imposing his son on the Matabeleland region, despite the efforts of others to unite citizens and promote the Rozvi/Lozwi culture.

"To our surprise, King Munhumutapa imposed his son Chiduku to run the Matabeleland region, sidelining those who had worked tirelessly to build the dynasty," Nkomo said. He also alleged that Chiduku exploited his position, using it to extort money from shop owners and businesspeople.

Chiminya, however, distanced himself from his son's actions. He acknowledged the arrest but said it had no connection to his position as king. "What caused his arrest has nothing to do with Munhumutapa. If he broke the law, the law must take its course," Chiminya said.

The internal dynamics of the self-proclaimed Munhumutapa dynasty have been fraught with tension. Chiminya revealed that Nkomo and Nyathi resigned from their roles, citing personal reasons. He insisted that Chiduku's appointment as provincial organiser was a continuation of decisions made by Nkomo, who had initially appointed Chiduku as his secretary.

Chiminya also criticized Chiduku for misusing his "King Munhumutapa ID" during his alleged illegal activities. Despite being linked to Forever Associate Zimbabwe (FAZ), a shadow group with ties to the Central Intelligence Organisation, Chiduku is accused of presenting himself as a government official to extort money.

Chiminya described the Bulawayo province as a hotspot for disputes, contrasting it with other provinces where commissioners reportedly work without issues. He also alleged that Nkomo and Nyathi had hijacked a WhatsApp group with over 600 members and removed administrators, further exacerbating tensions.

Efforts to contact Chiduku for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone was unreachable. Meanwhile, Chiminya reiterated his stance that if Chiduku is found guilty of the charges, he must face the consequences.