By Stephen Chadenga
King Munhumutapa, born Timothy Chiminya has warned government officials particularly from the Midlands who he accused of harassing traditional chiefs he recently installed.
In March Chiminya presided over the installation of Julius Chimbi Chigegwe and Servious Piki as Chiefs Chirumanzu and Hama respectively.
“I note with great concern that there are some senior government officials from the province who are harassing the chiefs we installed,”Chiminya said.
“This is what we have always said that substantive chiefs have not been coronated in many parts of the country to replace acting chiefs because of corrupt tendencies by some government officials and some members of the chiefs’ council who get kickbacks to maintain such cultural anomalies.
“As King Munhumutapa l have the powers to install chiefs and anyone who acts contrary to such is fighting against our traditional norms and values and so to those who are interfering be warned.”
Chiminya who has been on a whirlwind across the country replacing acting chiefs with substantive ones said his actions were guided by “ancestors” who sent him as a “messiah” to free chieftainships from corruption.
He said he “fully” supported President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s stance in fighting corruption in all sectors of the economy.
“The President is clear on fighting corruption and as traditional leaders we are also behind this stance in fighting , corruption that has caused chieftainship wrangles for years,”he said.
Chiminya said his actions to install chiefs were guided by a 2022 High Court order which declared him King Munhumutapa after the then Local Government Minister had contested his kingship.
