Masvingo chiefs vote to recall Charumbira and two others from Senate

Chiefs in Masvingo voted overwhelmingly on Monday to recall Chief Fortune Charumbira and two other chiefs from the National Council of Chiefs, in a surprise move that appears linked to ZANU PF’s succession politics. If formally effected, the recall would see all three lose their seats in the Senate.

According to the Masvingo Mirror, 42 of the 45 Masvingo chiefs who met at a hotel in the city voted in favour of a motion to recall Charumbira, Chief Chitanga (real name Feleni Chauke) of Mwenezi, and Chief Nhema (Rangarirai Bwawanda) of Zaka. No reasons were given for the proposed recalls.

The motion was moved by Chief Nemanwa, real name Fungai Manjiva, whose jurisdiction covers Great Zimbabwe and who was only appointed chief last month.

Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and ZANU PF provincial chairman Rabson Mavenyengwa also attended the meeting, further fuelling suggestions that the move was politically motivated.

The recall comes amid a nationwide purge by ZANU PF of officials accused of failing to enthusiastically support constitutional amendments that extended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term, or of being lukewarm towards the proposal.

It remains unclear whether the three chiefs were being targeted over their stance on the constitutional changes, though Chadzamira recently warned at a ZANU PF meeting that “there would be gnashing of teeth.”

Chief Chitanga confirmed the vote. “Yes, we have been booted out. Forty-two out of forty-five chiefs voted in favour of the motion,” he said.

The National Council of Chiefs is the statutory body representing Zimbabwe’s traditional leaders. Chiefs sitting on the council are elected by their peers at provincial assemblies, and from there can go on to be elected to the Senate.

Under the Constitution, 16 chiefs — two from each of the eight non-metropolitan provinces — sit in the Senate, alongside the president and deputy president of the National Council of Chiefs, who sit ex officio.

This gives traditional leaders a guaranteed 18 seats in the 90-member chamber.

Charumbira, a former president of the council, currently serves as its deputy president under Chief Lucas Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi in Matabeleland North, and also sits in the Senate.

The Masvingo provincial assembly’s decision means Charumbira, Chitanga and Nhema, who represent the province in the Senate, now face formal recall.