…“We are not allowed to install opposition members as village heads”
Brighton Chiseva
ZAKA – Chief Bota born Tafirenyika Bwazvo of Zaka recently exposed how Zanu PF interferes in the selection of traditional leaders saying they were ordered not to install village heads or headmen who do not support the ruling party.
Bota was speaking on the sidelines of an ongoing wrangle for Manyetu village headship following the death of substantive village head Isau Manyetu in March this year.
Bota is accused of fleecing the warring parties some money promising both contenders the post, a development that has delayed the installation of a new village head.
Asked for a comment on the matter, Bota denied having been paid by either side but said they had agreed to appoint one of the late village head’s sons who was loyal to the ruling party than the other faction led by the deceased’s brothers and aligned to the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
“They are lying, I have never asked them for any cent, infact when I went there, they never gave us fuel money as they are supposed to do.
“We chose the village head who is son to the late and is loyal to Zanu PF, the other faction is aligned to CCC so we cannot choose someone who does not tow the ruling party line. They are the ones who lie that I asked for money from them whereas they did not give me anything,” said Bota.
Asked if they chose village heads on party basis, Bota said they were told by Zanu PF leadership that they were not supposed to install leaders who supported the opposition party.
He also said the person they had installed apart from supporting Zanu PF was also the rightful heir according to their family tree and had his brothers’ blessing since he was not the eldest son.
“We cannot appoint someone who is not Zanu PF; we had a situation here when we appointed another village head from Nhenjana. The eldest member of the family was appointed but (Zanu PF provincial) chairman Mavhenyengwa asked me why we had installed someone who was not Zanu PF.
“Fortunately the guy had just returned to Zanu PF but the chairman didn’t know, so these are the situations that we try to avoid. We also used their family tree and the one who was installed argued that the village belonged to his father and does not include his father’s brothers who were now claiming authority.
“Though the one who was selected is not the eldest son, he has his brothers’ blessing and they all agreed to appoint him since he is the one who stays in the area,” said Bota.
Contacted for comment, Mavhenyengwa denied ever calling Bota over the appointment of village heads and said that was the responsibility of the chiefs and the District Development Coordinator (DDC)’s office.
“We as a party are never involved in the selection of traditional leaders. We simply work with the one who is there. The Chief and DDC are responsible for that and they do it following their tradition.
“I don’t have Chief Bota’s contact number, so there was no way I could have called him. I only used to have the late acting chief’s number,” said Mavhenyengwa.
The wrangle is between the late village head’s sons who fronted Solomon Manyetu to take over the reins following their father’s death.
However, the late village head’s brother Trymore Masipiki is challenging Solomon’s ascendency saying he is the one who should take over.
