Phillip Mukarati
CHIRUMHANZU: The past months have seen long debates, court applications, court cases and a lot of speculation, voice notes and write up surrounding the Chirumanzu Chieftaincy.
The elevation of Abraham Nyamandi as the 18th Chief Chirumanzu has had a few people from the Nherera side of the Mhazi family claiming that it was not done above board whilst the Ministry of Local Government says everything done followed due process.
Community Talk had the opportunity to speak with community elders, Ephraim Chaka and Gilbert Mazvimba trying to establish facts from the Simba side of the story.
This was necessitated by an audio that circulated on social media claiming that the Simba family should not be on the throne.
Basically, as we established, Nherera was Mhepo’s first born and when Simba went to war or for cattle acquisition in far off lands, some claim a spirit medium or seer, then emerged that Simba had died during the expedition. Nherera then, in line with tradition, married Simba’s women, adopted the children and wealth as per cultural dictates.
Simba comes back from war, presumably with lots of cattle too, to find that things were in disarray.
Though he is said to have accepted the explanations with stoic grace, he was later on to have his day and exacted revenge for some long festering resentment and waged war against Nherera and beneficiaries of his wealth.
The Nherera folks had to run away from The Chaka – Ndarikure area and so the Chieftaincy fell to the Simba family by conquest.
The current argument seems to stem from the fact that the Simba family, probably due to larger numbers in the proximity of Chirumanzu, has had more opportunities to sit on the throne than the Nherera side, and so the Nherera side seeks redress of this matter.
According to Ephraim Chaka, the government intervened to get the two families on a negotiating table to end further confusion and disputes in 1975. It was agreed then that the two families alternate the Chieftaincy and since then, there has not been a dispute.
The outgoing Chief was from Nherera Family, Chief Gerald Mudzengi. Since then, there has of necessity been a regent or sarapavana, his son Fidelis Mudzengi.
Now it is time to appoint a substantive Chief again and, should the 1975 agreement be followed in terms of turns, the Chieftaincy should be in the Simba Family.
In the Simba Family, out of the six major houses, Bangure, Chatikobo, Muzondo, Maotsa, Chaka, Masendeke; (Bhwoni – Hutire, Chipangura) it was seen that the Muzondo Famiy was next in line and the first born there Abraham Nyamandi as next Substantive Chief Chirumanzu.
The selection process happened on the 6th of June last year with both houses present, which, incidentally is also Abraham Nyamandi’s birthday.
The Simba side seems to be wondering where the machinations by Julius Chimbi, brother to Headman Clive Chimbi backed by Chigegwe are coming from and what macabre shenanigans they are supposed to achieve.
