STAFF REPORTER
ZAKA- Solomon Charles Mavhenyengwa is set to be officially installed as substantive Chief Muroi on Friday at Mukwirimba Primary School in Zaka North Constituency.
Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe will be the guest of honour with nearby traditional leaders and subjects also expected to attend.
Zanu-PF Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, Robson Mavhenyengwa confirmed the development and said preparations for the prestigious event are at advanced stage.
“Preparations to install new Chief Muroi are at an advanced stage and everyone is invited to attend the event which will be held at Mukwirimba Primary School from 10 am,” he said.
According to well-placed sources, Mavhenyengwa’s decision to pass the chieftainshp button to his son is aimed to remain at the helm in party politics.
The political rationale was linked to the constitutional requirement that traditional leaders remain outside partisan politics. Section 281(2)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that a traditional leader must not “be a member of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics.” The provision also states that traditional leaders must not act in a partisan manner, further the interests of a political party or cause, or violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of any person.
The relevant provision states:
“Traditional leaders must not—
(a) be members of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics;
(b) act in a partisan manner;
(c) further the interests of any political party or cause; or
(d) violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of any person.”
On that basis if Mavhenyengwa would have taken the chieftainship role, the development would have required him to relinquish his party-political role, thereby opening a Zanu-PF provincial charimanship vacuum.
Mavhenyengwa is alleged to have chosen a different arrangement. Instead of taking the chieftainship himself and leaving politics, he reportedly remained Zanu-PF provincial chairman while the traditional position was passed to his son.
