Garwe installs CIO aide as Chief

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe on Friday installed Central Intelligence Organisation operative Silas Chikwanda as substantive Chief Chikwanda at a ceremony marked by the conspicuous absence of members of the Chikwanda clan and close family relatives.

The event, held at Chikwanda Secondary School a few kilometres from Lake Mutirikwi in Masvingo, was attended largely by primary and secondary school pupils, police officers from the Law and Order section, suspected intelligence officers and officials from the Ministry of Local Government.

Silas Chikwanda is reportedly a security aide to Garwe.

Peter Chikwanda, Silas' brother, described the ceremony as a nullity, saying the family deliberately boycotted the event after lodging a formal objection to President Emmerson Mnangagwa over what they termed an "unprocedural and illegal appointment."

"We did not attend the ceremony, and we went about our daily activities because we object to the appointment, and we have sent our petition to the President on the matter. The event is a nullity. Nothing is above board and legal, so the whole thing is a non-event to us," Peter told Masvingo Mirror.

Also absent were several prominent traditional leaders from the province, including Chief Murinye, chairperson of the Masvingo Provincial Chiefs' Council; Chief Mutanga (born Felani Chauke); Chief Gutu; President of the National Council of Chiefs, Chief Lucas Mtshane Kumalo; and Chief Musara, who is alleged to work closely with Silas.

Chief Chitanga and Chief Kumalo have recently expressed displeasure at what they described as the unprocedural manner in which Silas was appointed by President Mnangagwa.

Appearing to respond to the low turnout, Garwe defended the installation, saying he would install anyone appointed chief by the President, regardless of objections.

"This is the second young man from my office to be appointed and installed as Chief. The first was Chief Nyakuchena from Mudzi. If the President appoints someone, he is going to be installed, whether you like it or not, like what we are doing right now," Garwe said.

Chief Nyakuchena of Mudzi was identified as Keith Karinda Chimbangu, another official previously linked to Garwe's office.

A letter dated February 10, 2026, addressed to President Mnangagwa and copied to senior government and traditional leadership offices, alleges that constitutional procedures were bypassed in the appointment process.

The letter states that there was no selection process by the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs as required by the Constitution, no recommendations to the provincial assembly by a selection team, and no subsequent recommendation to the National Council of Chiefs.

It further alleges that no recommendations were made by the National Council of Chiefs and that Silas Chikwanda should not have been appointed acting chief in the first place. Instead, the family argues, Peter Chikwanda ought to have been appointed acting chief following consultations involving the clan, the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs and Ministry of Local Government officials.

"There was no opportunity for all Chikwanda chieftainship houses to make submissions for the rightful candidate," reads part of the petition.

The installation has deepened tensions within the Chikwanda clan and raised fresh questions over the role of executive authority in the appointment of traditional leaders, with critics arguing that due constitutional processes must be strictly followed to preserve the integrity of Zimbabwe's traditional leadership structures.