News / National
Buhera chief appointment challenged in court
18 Aug 2026 at 06:11hrs |
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The appointment of Garepi Mavhurudza as substantive Chief of Buhera South has been challenged in the High Court by a member of the community's recognised royal lineage.
Tutsirayi Chimutsa, represented by Mangwana and Partners, has filed review proceedings seeking to stop the implementation of Mavhurudza's appointment pending the determination of his application.
Chimutsa cited Mavhurudza, the National Chiefs Council and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works as respondents.
He argues that the appointment was made in breach of the law and customary succession practices, claiming that he was not given an opportunity to make representations despite being an interested and affected party.
Chimutsa further alleges that the appointment disregarded the established line of succession recognised under the community's customs.
In his court papers, he said he belonged to the lineage entitled to the Buhera South chieftainship under customary law and historical records.
He attached records from the National Archives of Zimbabwe dating back to 1967 relating to the Chamutsa community, which he says support his claim to the chieftainship.
According to Chimutsa, Mavhurudza does not belong to the eligible lineage and was appointed without interested parties being afforded an opportunity to present their views.
He has therefore instituted review proceedings seeking an order declaring the appointment unlawful and procedurally irregular.
Chimutsa is also seeking an order staying the implementation of the appointment pending determination of his review application under case number HCH 1798/26.
He said the matter was urgent because Mavhurudza had already been appointed and he believed his installation and assumption of office were imminent.
"If the installation and assumption of office occur, it will result in Mavhurudza exercising authority as Chief and entrenching his position," Chimutsa said in his court papers.
He argued that allowing the installation to proceed would create a fait accompli and potentially render the pending review application nugatory.
Chimutsa said he acted promptly after learning of the appointment and its imminent implementation.
He is asking the court to remit the succession dispute to the appropriate authority for reconsideration in accordance with the law and customary practices, with all interested parties given an opportunity to be heard.
The application is pending before the High Court.
Tutsirayi Chimutsa, represented by Mangwana and Partners, has filed review proceedings seeking to stop the implementation of Mavhurudza's appointment pending the determination of his application.
Chimutsa cited Mavhurudza, the National Chiefs Council and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works as respondents.
He argues that the appointment was made in breach of the law and customary succession practices, claiming that he was not given an opportunity to make representations despite being an interested and affected party.
Chimutsa further alleges that the appointment disregarded the established line of succession recognised under the community's customs.
In his court papers, he said he belonged to the lineage entitled to the Buhera South chieftainship under customary law and historical records.
He attached records from the National Archives of Zimbabwe dating back to 1967 relating to the Chamutsa community, which he says support his claim to the chieftainship.
According to Chimutsa, Mavhurudza does not belong to the eligible lineage and was appointed without interested parties being afforded an opportunity to present their views.
Chimutsa is also seeking an order staying the implementation of the appointment pending determination of his review application under case number HCH 1798/26.
He said the matter was urgent because Mavhurudza had already been appointed and he believed his installation and assumption of office were imminent.
"If the installation and assumption of office occur, it will result in Mavhurudza exercising authority as Chief and entrenching his position," Chimutsa said in his court papers.
He argued that allowing the installation to proceed would create a fait accompli and potentially render the pending review application nugatory.
Chimutsa said he acted promptly after learning of the appointment and its imminent implementation.
He is asking the court to remit the succession dispute to the appropriate authority for reconsideration in accordance with the law and customary practices, with all interested parties given an opportunity to be heard.
The application is pending before the High Court.
Source - newsday
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