Brighton
Chiseva
Chiseva
ZIMUTO – Village heads under Headman Nemarundwi in Chief Zimuto’s
area are defying the new headman Smart Chidavarume claiming he is illegitimate.
area are defying the new headman Smart Chidavarume claiming he is illegitimate.
Chidavarume was installed last year and the installation
ceremony was reported to have taken place under military guard for fear of disturbances
from those who were opposed to his ascendency.
ceremony was reported to have taken place under military guard for fear of disturbances
from those who were opposed to his ascendency.
Masvingo District Administrator (DA) Ray Hove confirmed
the wrangle and said he expected the issue to be handled by the chief.
the wrangle and said he expected the issue to be handled by the chief.
“The village heads have taken the former headman’s
side and are not listening to the new headman but these are simple matters that
can be resolved by Chief Zimuto. He is the right person to handle such a
dispute as all of them are his subjects. He convened a meeting and my office
was invited but we had fuel challenges so it had to be postponed,” said
Hove.
side and are not listening to the new headman but these are simple matters that
can be resolved by Chief Zimuto. He is the right person to handle such a
dispute as all of them are his subjects. He convened a meeting and my office
was invited but we had fuel challenges so it had to be postponed,” said
Hove.
Sources said that whenever Chidavarume summons the
village heads, they do not go but if they are summoned by the former headman, they
would quickly go.
village heads, they do not go but if they are summoned by the former headman, they
would quickly go.
“There is a problem in the area because most people
do not listen to the new headman but they respect his predecessor who held the position
on an acting basis after the death of his father. If the current headman
summons them they do not go, but if the former headman does that, they quickly
go,” said the source.
do not listen to the new headman but they respect his predecessor who held the position
on an acting basis after the death of his father. If the current headman
summons them they do not go, but if the former headman does that, they quickly
go,” said the source.
There are two families to the Nemarundwi headmanship
namely Nhunzvi and Nduru. The headmanship is supposed to rotate between the two
families but it is claimed the tradition was not followed when Chidavarume was
appointed.
namely Nhunzvi and Nduru. The headmanship is supposed to rotate between the two
families but it is claimed the tradition was not followed when Chidavarume was
appointed.
Critics of Chidavarume say the headmanship was supposed
to go to the Nduru house with the eldest member in the family taking over.
to go to the Nduru house with the eldest member in the family taking over.
Last year, Hove was quoted saying when the selection
meeting was done in 2016 two names, Chidavarume and Magiya Kwenda’s emerged.
However, Magiya was overlooked as he is younger than Chidavarume.
meeting was done in 2016 two names, Chidavarume and Magiya Kwenda’s emerged.
However, Magiya was overlooked as he is younger than Chidavarume.
