Ngungunyana chieftainship revival raises tensions in Chipinge

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has intervened in a growing traditional leadership dispute in Chipinge District, amid tensions sparked by the revival of the Ngungunyana chieftainship.

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said government will dispatch a team before the end of May to resolve boundary disagreements that have left communities uncertain about their traditional authority.

The dispute centres on the re-establishment of the Ngungunyana chieftainship, which has been met with resistance from neighbouring chiefs who accuse it of encroaching into their territories.

Affected traditional leaders include those under the late Lovemore Anias Mapungwana, as well as chiefs Musikavanhu, Mutema and Muusha. Much of the contested land was previously under Chief Mapungwana's jurisdiction.

Speaking at Mapungwana's funeral in Mt Selinda, Garwe said the government is committed to restoring order and ensuring peaceful coexistence.

"These boundary disputes are a result of colonialism, but we can solve them… Whether one is under Chief Mapungwana or Ngungunyana, we are all Zimbabweans," he said.

Garwe said the dispute arises within a broader government programme to revive chieftainships that were abolished during colonial rule. He stressed that traditional leaders are being restored to their full roles under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration.

"All chieftainships abolished during colonialism will be revived… Chiefs are the custodians of our traditions, customs and beliefs," he said.

The Ngungunyana chieftainship now shares boundaries with several others in Chipinge, fuelling concerns about overlapping jurisdictions and administrative confusion among villagers.

Chief Ngungunyana welcomed the government's intervention, saying his community had already made concessions during earlier boundary negotiations.

"We thought the issue was settled… From the 26 village heads under Chief Mapungwana, I was only allocated 10, and I was fine with that," he said, adding that some ancestral burial sites remain outside his jurisdiction.

However, Chief Musikavanhu expressed frustration, claiming that local leaders were not adequately consulted when the chieftaincy was revived.

"We were not consulted when the Ngungunyana chieftaincy was revived… They keep taking our land, even claiming my homestead is in their area," he said.

Efforts to obtain comments from Chiefs Muusha and Mutema were unsuccessful.

Garwe said the government's intervention aims to provide a lasting solution by clarifying boundaries and ensuring all traditional leaders are fairly recognised.

He emphasised that traditional authorities remain central to governance at community level, working closely with the state and overseeing local justice systems.

Meanwhile, the minister paid tribute to the late Chief Mapungwana, describing him as a dedicated leader who championed development in his community.

He dismissed claims circulating on social media that government had neglected the chief during his illness, stating that authorities remain committed to the welfare and dignity of traditional leaders.

As government moves to address the dispute, communities in Chipinge are hoping for a swift resolution to restore clarity, stability and harmony under their respective chiefs.