. . . As provincial assembly of chiefs back Boniface Musara as substantive chief
Melinda Kusemachibi
MASVINGO – Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo has dismissed claims that he is fighting tooth and nail to strip off the Musara chieftainship after he allegedly wrote a letter to Masvingo Provincial Assembly of Chiefs recommending abolishment of the chieftainship.
Chiefs Provincial Assembly in Masvingo however convened recently (February 28, 2022) to discuss the matter and they dismissed the recommendations to strip off Musara chieftainship allegedly by Moyo, saying they instead affirm Chief Boniface Musara as the substantive chief of that clan.
The assembly, which comprises all chiefs in Masvingo province, made it clear that they have nothing to do with the issue because they know Musara chieftainship was legally resuscitated leading to the installation of the new chief in 2014.
July Moyo, however when contacted by TellZim for comment distanced himself from the Musara chieftainship matter saying he has nothing to do with it despite him alleged to have signed a letter last year recommending that Musara chieftainship be stripped off.
“I have not recommended anything to that effect; I have nothing to do with the Musara chieftainship and the meeting that was held in Masvingo. As you are aware that I was not there at the meeting in Masvingo, so I have nothing to do with that issue,” said Moyo.
However, despite him denying that he has anything to do with the matter, Moyo allegedly recommended the abolishment of the Musara chieftainship saying it was fraudulently resuscitated.
A reliable source who was part of the meeting said the traditional leaders unanimously agreed that, as far as they are concerned, they fully recognize the Musara chieftainship and its substantive chief Boniface Musara before they referred the matter back to July Moyo to deal with his own matter.
“The position was very clear; it was agreed that the Musara chieftainship was legally resuscitated so if July Moyo has any issues, then the ministry should deal with the matter. The issue does not need endorsement of the provincial assembly; probably it is an administrative issue so the ministry should deal with the matter,” said one of the chiefs who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Other chiefs( Ndanga – real name Wilson Makono, Neromwe-Clemence Madzingo , Serima- Vengai Rushwaya) when contacted by TellZim News referred questions to their chairperson Chief Chitanga born Fellen Chauke saying he is the one responsible for commenting on behalf of the assembly.
“Our chairperson Chief Chitanga is our spokesperson; he is in the best position to comment about that issue,” said the Chiefs.
The chairperson for the provincial assembly Senator Chief Chitanga could not shed more light when TellZim contacted him for comment as he referred the matter back to July Moyo.
“We have nothing to say for now; we can only do an analysis after the minister (Moyo) furnishes us with his report. For now I cannot say much,” said Chief Chitanga.
When contacted for comment, Chief Musara referred all the questions to July Moyo.
Though it’s not clear how the Musara chieftainship was fraudulently resuscitated; the available evidence show that there had been court battles which the Musaras won before Boniface was appointed the substantive Chief Musara in 2014.
In 2014 the High Court ordered Boniface Musara as substantive chief for Ward 32, Masvingo East putting to rest the protracted wrangle between the Musara and Chikwanda chieftainships that dates back to the colonial era.
It is reported that Wards 8 and 32 used to be under Musara chieftainship before they were grabbed by the white settlers.
The Musara Chieftainship was later resuscitated by the then local government minister Ignatius Chombo in 2014.
However, the neighboring Chief Kadiwa Chikwanda once dragged Musara to the high court, case number HC6348/2014. The matter was heard before Judge Justice Clemence Phiri who ruled in favour of Musara, dismissing Chikwanda’s application with costs. That resulted in the upholding of SI62 of 2014 emplacing the area covering Ward 32 under Chief Musara as valid and no appeal against the judgment was made thereafter. The ministry of local government also later warned Chikwanda to desist from further encroaching into Musara’ area of jurisdiction.
