One Chief, 336 Villages: Murewa’s Leadership Crisis Triggers Reform
MUREWA – The government is set to install three additional chiefs in Murewa district, Mashonaland East province, to address mounting concerns over corruption and governance strain.
The move comes as Chief Mangwende, currently the district’s sole traditional leader, struggles to manage a vast jurisdiction covering 336 villages and more than 200,000 people.
Historically, Murewa had four chieftainships, but three were dissolved by the colonial regime in 1896 after local communities refused colonial control.
Since then, the entire district has operated under the Mangwende chieftaincy.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe announced the plan at a Zanu PF inter-district meeting held at Hurungwe Primary School.
“The government, with the guidance of traditional leaders, will continue to resuscitate chieftainships that were affected by colonial legacies.
“In Murewa, government is set to install three new chiefs whose chieftainship was once abolished by the white settlers in 1896 because the people had refused to cooperate and to be subjugated by the colonialists. Chief Mangwende will remain a chief,” Garwe said.
Garwe said the new chiefs would help build a more prosperous Murewa and contribute to Vision 2030.
Chief Mangwende, real name Morgan Taaziva Gatsi, has since appointed a steering committee to assist in managing district affairs.
However, the committee has come under scrutiny for allegedly operating outside the chief’s authority.
The committee led by Franklin Mukarakate, with Edmore Mangwende as secretary and members Tichafa Chibanda and Charles Mukarakate is accused of installing village heads and headmen in resettlement areas without the chief’s knowledge.
These areas are currently overseen by village development committees.
A government investigation led by principal director C. Shumba recommended the installation of three more chiefs to restore order and reduce administrative strain.
According to NewsDay, the proposal includes splitting the Mangwende chieftainship and reviving the Bandakamwe RaGatsi and Nyagwizu Chikonamombe Dzete chieftainships.
The report cited section 283(b) of the Constitution and section 29 of the Traditional Leaders Act as legal grounds for the restructuring.
It recommended dividing Murewa into four chieftainship zones to improve governance and service delivery.
Murewa district spans 3,554 square kilometres and has the largest geographical area in Mashonaland East.
It comprises 30 wards, 336 communal villages, and five headmen.
Based on the 2022 census, the district has a population of 205,440, up from 195,085 in 2012.
The report highlighted that Chief Mangwende’s jurisdiction far exceeds the average for traditional leaders.
In Binga district, for example, a chief oversees around 6,000 subjects.
In contrast, Mangwende is responsible for more than 200,000 people, making it difficult for villagers to access traditional justice.
“Inhabitants of the area are finding it difficult to access the services of the chief, especially when they have to go to the Mukarakate area whenever they want their disputes addressed.
“Communities from the furthest areas often spend up to US$30 per journey, with more than five people required per dispute, including witnesses,” the report stated.
The financial burden has become a barrier to justice, leading to unchecked corruption among headmen and village leaders.
The report cited illegal land sales and uncontrolled settlements as consequences of weakened oversight.
The findings were endorsed by the National Chiefs Council during its meeting held on September 28–29, 2017.
The council supported the recommendation to re-establish the three abolished chieftainships.
Other members of the investigation team included B. Muchenje, F. A. Chikovo, J. Mapungwana, J. Munakira, R. B. Muchenje, and G. Wadzvanywa, who was the district administrator at the time.
