Zanu-PF holding meeting to depose Chief Chirumhanzu

Zanu-PF has called a meeting at the District Development Co-ordinator's (DDC) Office at 9 a.m. tomorrow to remove Chief Chirumanzu, Abraham Marufu Nyamandi, citing alleged ties to the opposition. Party members have reportedly been moving through the district, telling villagers that Nyamandi has already been removed.

Reliable sources from Masvingo Mirror indicate that Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbra Rwodzi, is allegedly behind the move to depose the chief. Nyamandi was installed in July last year following proper procedures, with all families involved agreeing that he was the rightful heir.

Observers say the attempted removal underscores a growing trend of political interference in traditional leadership. Chiefs are increasingly being targeted or appointed based on loyalty to Zanu-PF rather than customary succession practices, a development critics argue represents a significant erosion of democratic and cultural space in Zimbabwe.

The controversy in Chirumanzu highlights ongoing tensions between political party interests and traditional authority, raising concerns about the independence of chieftainship appointments and the preservation of cultural norms.