Stephen Chadenga
The battle for the Chirumanzu chieftainship has taken yet another twist with contenders the throne making a High Court application challenging the manner in which Abraham Nyamande was selected as the substantive chief.
In a High Court application case number HCH920/25 dated 25 April 2025, John Marinda, Innocent Chapwanya, Albert Jonasi Zvidzai and Ecknos Happiness Mutyanda are cited as first to fourth applicants respectively.
The minister of Local Government and Public Works and National Housing (Daniel Garwe), Midlands provincial chiefs assembly and Abraham Nyamande are first to third respondents.
In their heads of argument the applicants noted that a meeting was convened on June 6, 2024 at the behest of first and second respondents whose purpose was to select a candidate for the office of Chief Chirumanzu.
“After the meeting first and second respondents came up with third respondent as their preferred candidate,”submitted the applicants through their lawyers Kufaruwenga and Associates Legal Practitioners.
“Applicants content that the proceedings for the nomination of third respondent were fraught with irregularities and violated provisions of the Administrative Justice Act (chapter 10:28), the Constitution and the Traditional Leaders Act (chapter 29:17) and ought to be set aside.”
The applicants further content that the respondents failed to file a notice of opposition within the time given in the court application.
They submitted the first, second and third respondents were served with court applications this year on March 3, February 28 and March 4 respectively and we’re supposed to file their opposing papers on March 18 only to do a day later on March 19.
They (applicants) also submitted that during the proceedings of June 6 last year first and second respondents allowed 11 people from the Simba sub-house to speak but only gave three people from the Nherera house an opportunity. They argue that first and second respondents failed to be neutral adjudicators in handling the chieftainship.
The Nherera house argue that according to the traditional customs of the Chirumanzu chieftainship Julius Chimbi Chigegwe should be the next heir to the throne.