Village heads develop cold feet over Chief Musarurwa petition
MOSES MADYIRA
CHIKOMBA—Village heads in Ward 16, Nharira in Chikomba District are developing cold feet over a petition where they reported Chief Musarurwa born Ernos Musakwa for allegedly selling state land.
The petition to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission which was dated 21 April and signed by 26 out of 42 village heads accuses Chief Musarurwa of grabbing grazing land and selling it to unsuspecting beneficiaries.
Those who signed the petition are now backtracking accusing Gibson Muzondo of conniving with Phibion Madzivire in forging their signatures thereby dragging them in their conspiracy to dethrone Chief Musarurwa from his traditional post.
According to reliable sources who spoke to The Midweek Watch, Musarurwa wrote a letter to Chikomba RDC requesting their permission to allow him to establish two more villages in his area of jurisdiction which was recently granted.
After the council granted him the permission, he then went on to establish two villages namely; Hatiugari and Chikumbirike. So far the two villages have more than 45 residents who are all from within the area. It is alleged that the friction came about as a result of a long standing chieftainship wrangle between Chief Musarurwa and Madzivire.
Efforts to get a comment from Madzivire were fruitless as his phone was either unreachable or not being answered.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, one of the village heads whose signature appears on the petition, Erady Chivazhe denied signing the petition accusing Madzivire of forging his signature.
“I did not sign the petition I was shocked to find my name and signature appearing on the petition. I was only invited to the meeting and I was dismissed before it even commenced. Someone forged my signature to validate the petition,” said Chivazhe.
Village head Tigere born Nobert Tigere also denied involvement in the petition arguing that he was being used as a pawn in the existing chieftainship wrangle between Musarurwa and his clansmen.
“I was not informed about this petition, I never attended the meeting I was shocked to see my name appearing on the petition,” said Tigere.
Chief Musarurwa denied selling grazing land to people and reiterated that the matter is not about the grazing land but about a chieftainship wrangle.
“The story here is beyond this because everyone knows I requested council to permit me to establish two villages in my area of jurisdiction which was approved. I informed all my village heads about the development.
“The thing is I stayed in Chief Neshangwe so when I got the chieftainship some of my clansmen find it hard to accept, especially Phibion Madzivire who claims to be the rightful heir to the throne,” said Chief Musarurwa.
Other village heads in ward 16 who diowned the petition are Muzira, Takawira and Foto. It’s not clear why the village heads are now backtracking from the petition which was they are believed to have been part of.
