BULAWAYO - Lawyers representing President Robert Mugabe and Local government Minister Ignatius Chombo (pictured) have filed papers at the High Court opposing an application by a Gweru man seeking the reversal of their illegal appointment of an outsider as Chief.Mugabe and Chombo were dragged to court recently by Golden Moyo for illegally appointing outsider Stephen Mkoba as Chief Bunina in contravention of the Traditional Leaders Act. Moyo stated that he was supposed to be appointed chief for the area since he had occupied the position of acting chief since the death of his father, Jackson Moyo, in 2000.
However, Mugabes lawyers last week said the Presidents appointment of an outsider did not contravene the Traditional leaders Act. “All traditions and customs of the Bunina people were taken into account during the selection. The Bunina people are Rozvi people. The succession principle of the Rozvi people is collateral. This was largely influenced by the fact that the Bunina people are now situated in an area that is largely populated by the Ndebeles. The Ndebele people apply the primogeniture principles in their selection process,” wrote Killian Mupingo, the Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Ministry in a notice of opposition. He said Moyo was never disinherited by Mugabe and Chombo since he was not, and is still not, entitled to the chieftainship according to the customs and traditions of the Bunina clan.
No hearing date for the application has been set by the High Court.