TWO traditional leaders from Mashonaland West province have taken each other to the High Court over a boundary dispute.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Hurungwe’s Chief Nematombo, born Ben Shiridzinodya, early this month filed summons under case number HC3475/16 against recently installed Chief Chanetsa, claiming the latter had encroached into his area of jurisdiction.
Nematombo cited Chanetsa, Hurungwe district administrator, Mashonaland West provincial administrator and Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere as respondents.
“Defendants did not properly exercise their duties because they ended up giving the new Chief Chanetsa powers to reign over in Hurungwe area, which is traditionally the plaintiff’s (Chief Nematombo) area of jurisdiction,” Nematombo’s lawyer, Lucky Mawuwa said.
“The plaintiff does not oppose the installation of Chief Chanetsa, but has a disgruntlement with his area of jurisdiction, which now encroaches into his own area. The subjects in the plaintiff’s area wrote a petition, which was ignored.”
Chief Nematombo further said he, at one point, wrote to Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Faber Chidarikire, raising his concerns, but his letter was not responded to.
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The traditional leader also argued the government officials “failed to properly take into consideration the culture, customs, traditional norms and practices of the Birimau area in question”, before scouting and installing another chief in the same jurisdiction.
“There is need to have this anomaly promptly resolved by the granting of an appropriate order by this honourable court, wherefore plaintiff claims the following: An order declaring that the second, third and fourth defendants (Hurungwe district administrator, Mashonaland West provincial administrator and Local Government minister) acted contrary to the culture, customs, traditions and practices of the Birimau area when they recommended the appointment of the first defendant (Chief Chanetsa) as chief,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nematombo said he would seek an order for the costs against any defendant who may oppose the lawsuit, but all the defendants have since filed an appearance to defend notice and are prepared to challenge the claim in court.
