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King Munhumutapa in tribal storm, appoints son secretary
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The self-appointed King Munhumutapa, Timothy Chiminya, is facing a growing controversy after allegedly sidelining some of his Bulawayo commissioners and appointing his son, Chiduku, as secretary of the Munhumutapa monarch. This has sparked a fierce tribal dispute within his ranks, particularly among his supporters in Matabeleland and Bulawayo.
Chiminya, who has been pushing for the revival of the Munhumutapa monarchy and garnering attention across Zimbabwe, appointed Chief Bekezela Bhekimpilo Nyathi as his spokesperson. Nyathi has been active in recruiting followers in Matabeleland, while in Bulawayo, Mandlenkosi Nkomo was appointed as a commissioner. However, tensions erupted when Chiminya removed Nkomo from the group's main WhatsApp chat and replaced him with his son, Chiduku, as the group administrator.
In a widely circulated audio clip, Chiminya directed his Bulawayo supporters to work closely with his son, asserting his authority by saying, "Chiduku is my son, muRozvi, so whatever he says you must do. He is working together with commissioners and everyone." He further emphasized the need for unity, saying, "I just wanted to address the issue that Chiduku is my son. I have made him secretary there in Bulawayo, working with Chief Nyathi and Nkomo, so you must work with him. Instruction is coming from the king directly."
Nkomo, who was removed from the group, expressed frustration over the decision, particularly after he had mobilized his entire family and spent considerable personal resources to support the monarch. "It was not bad for me to work with his son, but we were removed from the group that had 600 people. We were removed on tribal lines," Nkomo said. "Being a Ndebele, it is so sad that you will be used like a tissue and thrown away."
The appointment of Chiduku and the removal of Nkomo have caused a rift among supporters in Bulawayo. Nkomo insists that the change was based on tribal divisions and claimed that his efforts to promote the Munhumutapa kingdom in Matabeleland had been undermined. "The numbers that we have in Bulawayo do not lie when it comes to supporting King Munhumutapa. We have done wonders," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Nyathi, who has been a key ally of Chiminya, also voiced his concerns. He warned Chiminya that imposing his son on the people of Matabeleland would be a step too far. "If you fire Nkomo, I am also gone. We want to stand for the truth. United we stand, divided we fall," Nyathi stated. He also accused Chiminya of pushing a divisive, tribal agenda.
Chiminya, however, rejected these claims, urging Nyathi to stop being abusive. He dismissed accusations of tribalism and reiterated his desire to lead the kingdom with the support of his son and other loyal members.
As the dispute unfolds, the future of the Munhumutapa monarchy appears uncertain, with divisions growing both within the leadership and among its supporters in the region. The conflict has shed light on the challenges of reviving a centuries-old royal legacy in modern Zimbabwe, where tribal and political tensions remain a sensitive issue.
Chiminya, who has been pushing for the revival of the Munhumutapa monarchy and garnering attention across Zimbabwe, appointed Chief Bekezela Bhekimpilo Nyathi as his spokesperson. Nyathi has been active in recruiting followers in Matabeleland, while in Bulawayo, Mandlenkosi Nkomo was appointed as a commissioner. However, tensions erupted when Chiminya removed Nkomo from the group's main WhatsApp chat and replaced him with his son, Chiduku, as the group administrator.
In a widely circulated audio clip, Chiminya directed his Bulawayo supporters to work closely with his son, asserting his authority by saying, "Chiduku is my son, muRozvi, so whatever he says you must do. He is working together with commissioners and everyone." He further emphasized the need for unity, saying, "I just wanted to address the issue that Chiduku is my son. I have made him secretary there in Bulawayo, working with Chief Nyathi and Nkomo, so you must work with him. Instruction is coming from the king directly."
Nkomo, who was removed from the group, expressed frustration over the decision, particularly after he had mobilized his entire family and spent considerable personal resources to support the monarch. "It was not bad for me to work with his son, but we were removed from the group that had 600 people. We were removed on tribal lines," Nkomo said. "Being a Ndebele, it is so sad that you will be used like a tissue and thrown away."
Meanwhile, Chief Nyathi, who has been a key ally of Chiminya, also voiced his concerns. He warned Chiminya that imposing his son on the people of Matabeleland would be a step too far. "If you fire Nkomo, I am also gone. We want to stand for the truth. United we stand, divided we fall," Nyathi stated. He also accused Chiminya of pushing a divisive, tribal agenda.
Chiminya, however, rejected these claims, urging Nyathi to stop being abusive. He dismissed accusations of tribalism and reiterated his desire to lead the kingdom with the support of his son and other loyal members.
As the dispute unfolds, the future of the Munhumutapa monarchy appears uncertain, with divisions growing both within the leadership and among its supporters in the region. The conflict has shed light on the challenges of reviving a centuries-old royal legacy in modern Zimbabwe, where tribal and political tensions remain a sensitive issue.
Source - newsday
