News / National
Fortune Charumbira's chieftainship may be illegitimate
11 hrs ago |
57 Views
Government has reportedly reopened investigations into Chief's Council president Fortune Charumbira's chieftainship following allegations that his leadership may be illegitimate. The inquiry comes amid long-standing disputes over succession rights within the Charumbira traditional area.
Charumbira, who is also a Senator, declined to comment on the matter, directing all questions to officials at the Ministry of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of Culture and Heritage. "Ask the people at the ministry, they will give you more information on that. I am in a meeting at the moment at Parliament," he said.
Sources indicated that President Robert Mugabe personally approved the renewed investigations after Fainos Mihwa, a member of the Mapingure house, petitioned him in November 2016 to review the chieftainship succession. The petition claims that three generations in Charumbira's family—his grandfather Mhazha, his father Zephania, and Fortune himself—assumed the chieftainship without following Shona customs, which mandate rotation among houses.
A government delegation, led by Fanuel Mkwaira, visited Charumbira Business Centre to gather evidence on the claims. Sources revealed that the threat to Charumbira's position was serious enough that he reportedly approached First Lady Grace Mugabe for intervention. Grace is said to have refused assistance, noting that the matter falls under the purview of the responsible ministry.
Charumbira, who is believed to be affiliated with the Lacoste faction supporting Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Zanu-PF succession politics, has also sought a court interdict to halt the investigations.
Eight houses that claim entitlement to the Charumbira chieftainship—including the Mututuvari, Mapingure, Mutanha, Mataruse, Mudzimbasekwa, Magura, Muvoni, and Madyira—attended the government-facilitated meeting. The Mapingure house appeared to stand alone, with most headmen showing support for Charumbira. Tensions flared during the meeting, with Charumbira supporters accusing the Mapingure family of MDC-T political alignment, while the Mapingure house insisted the dispute was strictly a customary matter.
The Mapingure family argued that they were originally meant to assume the chieftainship during the liberation struggle but were blocked by the colonial government, which accused them of supporting ZANLA forces. They claimed that Zephania Charumbira, Fortune's father, had been protected by Rhodesian authorities, and that Shona customary practices differ from Ndebele traditions, where succession passes directly from father to son. A family letter stated that after Zephania's death, Fortune acted as chief for six months, but when the district administrator proposed another candidate, Dick, the appointment was never formalised.
The ongoing investigation underscores longstanding disputes over traditional succession and raises questions about the alignment of customary practices with formal recognition by government authorities.
Charumbira, who is also a Senator, declined to comment on the matter, directing all questions to officials at the Ministry of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of Culture and Heritage. "Ask the people at the ministry, they will give you more information on that. I am in a meeting at the moment at Parliament," he said.
Sources indicated that President Robert Mugabe personally approved the renewed investigations after Fainos Mihwa, a member of the Mapingure house, petitioned him in November 2016 to review the chieftainship succession. The petition claims that three generations in Charumbira's family—his grandfather Mhazha, his father Zephania, and Fortune himself—assumed the chieftainship without following Shona customs, which mandate rotation among houses.
A government delegation, led by Fanuel Mkwaira, visited Charumbira Business Centre to gather evidence on the claims. Sources revealed that the threat to Charumbira's position was serious enough that he reportedly approached First Lady Grace Mugabe for intervention. Grace is said to have refused assistance, noting that the matter falls under the purview of the responsible ministry.
Eight houses that claim entitlement to the Charumbira chieftainship—including the Mututuvari, Mapingure, Mutanha, Mataruse, Mudzimbasekwa, Magura, Muvoni, and Madyira—attended the government-facilitated meeting. The Mapingure house appeared to stand alone, with most headmen showing support for Charumbira. Tensions flared during the meeting, with Charumbira supporters accusing the Mapingure family of MDC-T political alignment, while the Mapingure house insisted the dispute was strictly a customary matter.
The Mapingure family argued that they were originally meant to assume the chieftainship during the liberation struggle but were blocked by the colonial government, which accused them of supporting ZANLA forces. They claimed that Zephania Charumbira, Fortune's father, had been protected by Rhodesian authorities, and that Shona customary practices differ from Ndebele traditions, where succession passes directly from father to son. A family letter stated that after Zephania's death, Fortune acted as chief for six months, but when the district administrator proposed another candidate, Dick, the appointment was never formalised.
The ongoing investigation underscores longstanding disputes over traditional succession and raises questions about the alignment of customary practices with formal recognition by government authorities.
Source - Newsday
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
