Matubede Mhute Mudavanhu
Brighton Chiseva
NEMAMWA – Five houses that constitute the
Mugabe chieftainship namely Dumbu, Chipfunhu, Haruzivishe, Mudavanhu, Chikanhe
– Muzondo have petitioned authorities to register their displeasure with the
on-going selection of substantive chief.
Mugabe chieftainship namely Dumbu, Chipfunhu, Haruzivishe, Mudavanhu, Chikanhe
– Muzondo have petitioned authorities to register their displeasure with the
on-going selection of substantive chief.
The families argue that the process was being
done unprocedurally and was rigged in favour of the acting chief, Matubede Mhute
Mudavanhu.
done unprocedurally and was rigged in favour of the acting chief, Matubede Mhute
Mudavanhu.
The aggrieved families have since written two
petitions to one to the Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) formerly known
as Provincial Administrator (PA) Fungai Mbetsa and the other to the District
Development Coordinator (DDC) formerly called District Administrator (DA) Ray
Hove.
petitions to one to the Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) formerly known
as Provincial Administrator (PA) Fungai Mbetsa and the other to the District
Development Coordinator (DDC) formerly called District Administrator (DA) Ray
Hove.
Dated May 24 and June 7, 2019 and signed by
representatives of the five houses, the letters were copied to the Director
Traditional Leaders Support Services, the office of the Minister of Masvingo
Provincial Affairs and the President’s Office.
representatives of the five houses, the letters were copied to the Director
Traditional Leaders Support Services, the office of the Minister of Masvingo
Provincial Affairs and the President’s Office.
In the first letter, the aggrieved families say
they were concerned that the process of choosing a substantive chief was not
following traditions.
they were concerned that the process of choosing a substantive chief was not
following traditions.
They accuse the team leading the process of
acting corruptly, saying they were literally imposing Mudavanhu – who has been
acting chief since 2009 – as substantive chief against the tradition of
rotating the throne among all the royal families.
acting corruptly, saying they were literally imposing Mudavanhu – who has been
acting chief since 2009 – as substantive chief against the tradition of
rotating the throne among all the royal families.
“We want
to bring to your attention of that there (sic) is a backdoor activity trying to
bring back an acting chief as substantive Chief Mugabe. This is against our
customs and traditions. We are feeling that there is a great betrayer (sic) on
us as a result of very corrupt people sent by the government to handle the
selection process.
to bring to your attention of that there (sic) is a backdoor activity trying to
bring back an acting chief as substantive Chief Mugabe. This is against our
customs and traditions. We are feeling that there is a great betrayer (sic) on
us as a result of very corrupt people sent by the government to handle the
selection process.
In the follow up letter, the Mugabes claim that
the selection process had in the past been delayed unjustifiably to give the
acting chief room to manoeuvre.
the selection process had in the past been delayed unjustifiably to give the
acting chief room to manoeuvre.
They argued that custom demands that the next
substantive chief be chosen from the Dumbu house.
substantive chief be chosen from the Dumbu house.
“The
customary principle of succession is quiet clear; it has remained based on
rotation of the five houses. There is no time in our history where the
chieftaincy has been passed from father to son as we now see being imposed on
us,” reads part of the letter.
customary principle of succession is quiet clear; it has remained based on
rotation of the five houses. There is no time in our history where the
chieftaincy has been passed from father to son as we now see being imposed on
us,” reads part of the letter.
When contacted for comment, Mbetsa claimed he
had not yet seen the petition, saying the matter was still at consultation
stages within the provincial chiefs’ council.
had not yet seen the petition, saying the matter was still at consultation
stages within the provincial chiefs’ council.
“I am yet to see the petition but if Mudavanhu
was indeed nominated, it’s them who know about it and the chief’s council. The
matter is still at consultation stages and the provincial chiefs’ council is
above the situation. They have not yet submitted their resolutions to my office,”
said Mbetsa.
was indeed nominated, it’s them who know about it and the chief’s council. The
matter is still at consultation stages and the provincial chiefs’ council is
above the situation. They have not yet submitted their resolutions to my office,”
said Mbetsa.
According to the Mugabes, Dumbu was the second
chief after Mugabe who reigned before 1850. Dumbu was replaced by Chipfunhu who
reigned from 1853 to 1894 and was succeeded by Mudavanhu who reigned between
1921 and 1927.
chief after Mugabe who reigned before 1850. Dumbu was replaced by Chipfunhu who
reigned from 1853 to 1894 and was succeeded by Mudavanhu who reigned between
1921 and 1927.
Chikanhe took over the reins from 1929 to 1934
and was succeeded by Muza who ruled from 1936 to 1943.
and was succeeded by Muza who ruled from 1936 to 1943.
Muza was Mugabe’s grandson and son to
Haruzivishe and was the first to rule after Mugabe’s sons.
Haruzivishe and was the first to rule after Mugabe’s sons.
Muza was replaced by Chiminya the son of Dumbu
who reigned from 1945 to 1951 before he was replaced by Mushuku son of
Chipfunhu who ruled between years 1953 and 1959.
who reigned from 1945 to 1951 before he was replaced by Mushuku son of
Chipfunhu who ruled between years 1953 and 1959.
Chikudo son of Haruzivishe took over in 1962
and ruled up to 1973 before he died and was replaced by Dr Stanely Manyera son
of Muzondo in 1975 who ruled up to 1997.
and ruled up to 1973 before he died and was replaced by Dr Stanely Manyera son
of Muzondo in 1975 who ruled up to 1997.
Muzondo was replaced by Mhute Mudavanhu, son of
Mudavanhu, who ruled from 2000 to 2009 and was replaced by his son Matubede,
the current acting chief whose suitability for the throne is being disputed.
Mudavanhu, who ruled from 2000 to 2009 and was replaced by his son Matubede,
the current acting chief whose suitability for the throne is being disputed.
According to the chronology, the Dumbu,
Chikanhe-Muzondo, Chipfunhu and Mudavanhu houses ruled two times each and Haruzivishe
ruled for three times. They therefore argue that it is yet again time for the
Dumbu house to take the throne in accordance with the rotational sequence of
choosing chiefs.
Chikanhe-Muzondo, Chipfunhu and Mudavanhu houses ruled two times each and Haruzivishe
ruled for three times. They therefore argue that it is yet again time for the
Dumbu house to take the throne in accordance with the rotational sequence of
choosing chiefs.
