The Makumbe royal family has petitioned the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), seeking urgent intervention over what it describes as political interference and irregularities in the appointment of a substantive chief for the Makumbe clan in Buhera district, Manicaland province.
In a letter dated July 21, 2026, gleaned by this publication and addressed to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, the family said it was seeking intervention over what it calls “serious irregularities and political interference in the process of selecting and installing a substantive chief for the Makumbe clan in Manicaland province”.
The letter, which bears an acknowledgment stamp from the OPC, alleges that the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Misheck Mugadza is interfering with the traditional succession process.
“We regret to allege that the Resident Minister of State for Manicaland Province is unduly interfering with the lawful processes by influencing the duly appointed bodies... We are not being consulted on matters that affect us as a family,” the petition reads.
According to the family, the Chengeta House's turn to provide a substantive chief ended following the death of the late acting chief, and tradition now requires another house within the Makumbe dynasty to produce the next substantive chief.
“The turn of the Chengeta House has lapsed by the death of an acting chief... and now they are pushing for the installation of a brother to the late chief from the same house, disregarding our longstanding tradition,” the family states.
The petition further argues that appointing another chief from the same house would violate resolutions reached by members of the Makumbe royal family during meetings held in May and July this year.
“Proceeding to appoint from the same House disregards the resolutions of the Makumbe houses meeting... The houses have already agreed on which house is ascending to the Chieftainship this time around,” read the letter.
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Beyond the succession dispute, the family raises allegations of corruption and abuse of office involving local government officials, claiming there were irregular appointments of village heads, unlawful allocation of communal land, attempts to install another acting chief despite a High Court interdict, and efforts to frustrate the lawful selection process.
“We further allege that the act by these few individuals is aimed at covering alleged misconduct by the lower offices in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works especially by the DDC's office,” the petition states, adding that “this interference is intended to shield certain individuals from investigations and possible prosecution”.
The family has appealed to the Office of the President and Cabinet to “direct an immediate halt to any political interference in the selection process”, instruct the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to “proceed with the lawful process of identifying and recommending a substantive chief for the Makumbe clan in accordance with custom and the Traditional Leaders Act” and “institute investigations into the allegations of corruption and abuse of office”.
“We believe the said interventions are necessary to uphold the rule of law, preserve the integrity of our traditional institutions, and maintain peace and stability in the Makumbe community,” the family said.
