By Staff Reporter
ZAKA – The High Court has declared the re-nomination and re-appointment of Wilson Nhongo as Headman Mushaya in Zaka District null and void, and ordered the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to install Farai Munerei within 60 days.
In an order handed down on August 7, 2026, seen by TellZim News, the court granted default judgment in favour of Munerei in Case No. R-HCH366/26, declaring him the rightful nominee and ordering his installation.
The matter was heard in the High Court of Zimbabwe, held at Harare, with Farai Munerei as the applicant.
The Respondents were Wilson Nhongo, cited as the 1st Defendant; Chief Bota, cited as the 2nd Defendant; and the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, cited as the 3rd Defendant.
The District Administrator, Zaka Rural District Council, was cited as the 4th Defendant.
“It is ordered that the application for default judgment is hereby granted. The renomination and reappointment of the first respondent is hereby declared null and void.
The applicant Farai Munerei is hereby declared the dully nominated Headman Mushaya as per the paid cultural rites.
The 3rd respondent is hereby ordered to appoint the applicant Farai Munerei as the duly nominated Headman Mushaya within 30 days of service of this order.
The 2nd and 4th respondents are hereby ordered to take all necessary steps to install the applicant as Headman Mushaya within 60 days of service of this order.
The 1st respondent shall pay the applicant the costs of suit,” read the letter.
Chief Bota confirmed to TellZim News that he had received communication of the court order and would comply with the timelines once official service was effected.
“I received the communication, and the people who brought the communication alleged that they had also communicated with the DDC and the Minister of State. However, I called the two offices, and they said they were yet to get the communication,” said Bota.
He went on to say he had since notified Nhongo of the communication, and that Nhongo said he was going to consult his lawyer.
“I have called Nhongo and his secretary to show them the letter. He told me he is also going to show the letter to his lawyers, and I have also ordered him to photocopy and bring back my copy,” said Chief Bota.
The court declared Munerei “the duly nominated Headman Mushaya as per the paid cultural rites to the 2nd Respondent, Chief Bota.”
It ordered the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development to appoint Munerei within 30 days, while Chief Bota and the Zaka District Administrator were directed to take all necessary steps to install him within 60 days.
Nhongo was also ordered to pay Munerei’s legal costs.The ruling brings to a close a bitter leadership dispute that has divided the Mushaya community for more than five years, since 2020.
The dispute has its origins in the death of the substantive headman more than five years ago, with the Mushaya headmanship vacant since then and the area being led on an acting basis.
The headmanship is rotational, with five houses entitled to the throne: Mutangiri, Mawarure, Chaurura, Chinezema, Rusira and Muzongomerwa.
The Mugarajira family of the Chavurura house had been holding the position on an acting basis following the death of the substantive headman.
However, deliberations resolved that the throne must go to the Mutangiri house, which is made up of two sub-families, Munerei and Tavengwa.
In June 2020, a meeting was held where the family selected Farai Munerei as the candidate after a poll which saw him garnering 34 votes out of 38.
However, Wilson Nhongo, an uncle to Farai, challenged the selection, arguing that he was the eldest possible member to lead in the family.
Nhongo was alleged to have gone to the then acting chief Bota and bribed him with cattle to rule in his favour, an allegation the acting chief denied.
By May 2021, tensions had escalated, with the acting chief accused of preparing to install Wilson Nhongo as headman without following proper procedures.
It was also alleged that Nhongo had been asked for five beasts as payment.Nhongo defended his position, stating he was the father figure left in the Mutangiri house and that the Munereis were his sons who could not rule without his blessing.
In February 2026, Chief Bota confirmed that Munerei’s cultural rites had been received, but said the government was yet to make a final determination on the appointment.
The dispute escalated in May 2026 when Nhongo was gazetted as headman, prompting Munerei to file an urgent High Court application challenging the re-nomination, arguing that proper custom had been followed in his case.
The judgment now puts pressure on the Ministry and Zaka RDC to implement the order and resolve the leadership impasse in Mushaya within the stipulated 30 and 60-day periods.
