News / National
Negomo chieftainship wrangle takes new twist
22 Oct 2017 at 14:07hrs | Views
The Negomo chieftainship wrangle, which exploded into the public arena last week, has taken a fresh twist with the chairperson of the provincial chief's council Chief Nembire (Clemence Nembire) washing his hands off the case.
This comes as the current Chief Negomo - Luscious Chitsinde - who is reportedly holding on to the throne despite having been deposed by his clansmen, reportedly organised a meeting of all village heads from his area on Tuesday.
The meeting, which came just two days after a clan meeting resolved to look for a new chief, was also attended by dozens of soldiers from the National Defence College who were reportedly invited by Chitsinde ostensibly to learn about Zimbabwean cultural activities.
Chief Nembire, who was earlier said to have chaired the clan meeting, yesterday denied ever setting foot at Gweshe business centre in Chiweshe where the de-stooling of Chief Negomo took place.
"I did not attend that meeting as earlier reported, I actually sent someone to chair that meeting," he said over the phone.
"There also appears to be a deliberate attempt to make Negomo a substantive chief when he was just an acting chief.
"The issue is that time has come for a substantive chief who must come from another family. Please, correct that," he said.
The Negomo clan members were reportedly also shocked by the presence of over 70 soldiers at Gweshe business centre on Tuesday.
The soldiers were reportedly led by National Defence College commandant Michael Moyo and arrived in a military bus and 12 other vehicles.
They included students from other countries who are attached at the college.
"They came to support Chief Negomo under the guise of educative programmes but the local political leadership was not invited. There were 139 village heads under Mazowe South and Mazowe Central constituencies, but the MPs from these constituencies were not invited. "Minister of State in Vice President's Office Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga, however, gate-crashed the meeting since it was being held in her constituency.
She was not given time to speak and had to beg for it. Their thinking is that the MPs are collaborating with those angling to depose chief Negomo," said a Negomo clansman who attended the meeting but declined to be identified fearing retribution.
"A few days before the meeting, the chief's people came around claiming that General Chiwenga (Constantino) was coming to address the meeting which we later discovered was not true. They always claim to enjoy the support of powerful people," he added.
Kanengoni-Malinga declined to comment about the meeting although she confirmed her attendance.
This comes as the current Chief Negomo - Luscious Chitsinde - who is reportedly holding on to the throne despite having been deposed by his clansmen, reportedly organised a meeting of all village heads from his area on Tuesday.
The meeting, which came just two days after a clan meeting resolved to look for a new chief, was also attended by dozens of soldiers from the National Defence College who were reportedly invited by Chitsinde ostensibly to learn about Zimbabwean cultural activities.
Chief Nembire, who was earlier said to have chaired the clan meeting, yesterday denied ever setting foot at Gweshe business centre in Chiweshe where the de-stooling of Chief Negomo took place.
"I did not attend that meeting as earlier reported, I actually sent someone to chair that meeting," he said over the phone.
"There also appears to be a deliberate attempt to make Negomo a substantive chief when he was just an acting chief.
"The issue is that time has come for a substantive chief who must come from another family. Please, correct that," he said.
The soldiers were reportedly led by National Defence College commandant Michael Moyo and arrived in a military bus and 12 other vehicles.
They included students from other countries who are attached at the college.
"They came to support Chief Negomo under the guise of educative programmes but the local political leadership was not invited. There were 139 village heads under Mazowe South and Mazowe Central constituencies, but the MPs from these constituencies were not invited. "Minister of State in Vice President's Office Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga, however, gate-crashed the meeting since it was being held in her constituency.
She was not given time to speak and had to beg for it. Their thinking is that the MPs are collaborating with those angling to depose chief Negomo," said a Negomo clansman who attended the meeting but declined to be identified fearing retribution.
"A few days before the meeting, the chief's people came around claiming that General Chiwenga (Constantino) was coming to address the meeting which we later discovered was not true. They always claim to enjoy the support of powerful people," he added.
Kanengoni-Malinga declined to comment about the meeting although she confirmed her attendance.
Source - dailynews
