CHIRUMANZU chieftainship aspirant Julius Chimbi Chigegwe has dismissed as “misinformed” allegations by Local Government minister Daniel Garwe that he intends assume the throne fraudulently.
Chigegwe made an application to the High Court to reclaim the Chirumanzu chieftainship, which he said was wrongly bestowed on Abraham Nyamande.
Nyamande was appointed substantive Chief Chirumanzu, but royal family members opposed to his ascendancy are fighting his appointment at the High Court.
In his notice of opposition to Chigegwe’s application dated August 28 and received by the High Court of Zimbabwe Harare Civil Division on September 1 under case number HCH 4096/25, Garwe said Chigegwe was offside.
“The Chirumanzu chieftainship follows a collateral system of succession between two houses, that is the Nherera and Mutizirapi (Simba). Thus the chieftainship rotates between two houses only,” Garwe submitted.
“There is no proof to substantiate whether the applicant (Chigegwe) is a descendant of the Nherera house.
Keep Reading
- Benzema confident Real will reach UCL final
- Disadvantaged girl child needs protection
- Rigging exposes widening Mnangagwa, Chiwenga rift
- Health talk: Mental health disorders and demolitions in Zimbabwe
“It is the mandate of the clan to select the candidate who will then be selected to select the next chief of the clan.”
Garwe said as respondents alongside the Midlands Provincial Chiefs Council, respectively, they relied on the candidates selected to choose the next chief in line with the Constitution and the Traditional Leaders Act [Chapter 29:17], the customs and practices of the area concerned.
“The applicant has been seeking to have a fraudulent nomination since 2021,” Garwe said.
“The Chigegwe sub-house has been lying in vain to become chiefs.”
In response to Garwe’s notice of opposition, Chigegwe said the minister sought to mislead the courts.
“It is clear from the tone of the affidavits that the respondent clearly fails to understand the nature and context of my application,” he submitted.
“In fact, I am surprised and shocked that, indeed, there has been an opposing affidavit filed out of abundance of caution.
“My response should be looked at as whole and not necessarily in isolation.”
Chigegwe maintained that he was son of the Chirumanzu royal house, descendants of Mhepo from the house of Nherera and Mutizirapi to which Chirumanzu chieftainship rotates.
“The chieftainship rotates not only between two houses as alleged, but alternates between different branches as houses within the royal family of the same clan,” he said.
“A chief is selected from the next royal house by order of seniority and when a chief dies, the next chief is selected from the next royal house by order of seniority until all the eligible houses of Chirumanzu chieftainship have had their chances.”
Chigegwe cited “serious irregularities” that failed to meet criteria in the nomination of Nyamande.
Nyamande was in July installed as Chief Chirumanzu despite a pending High Court order HCH920/25 which challenged his nomination.
The matter is pending.