A somber atmosphere turned into a political battlefield this week as opposition-aligned gangs reportedly teamed up to launch a calculated smear campaign against Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs. The incident, which took place during a local funeral, saw coordinated efforts to silence the traditional leader over his support for the Constitutional Amendment Bill consultative meetings. Witnesses claim that activists from various opposition factions, including members linked to the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and local pressure groups, attempted to block the Chief from addressing the mourners.
The gangs led by Mureyi a known Opposition Activists argued that Senator Charumbira should not be allowed to speak because of his perceived “Pro-ZANU PF” stance and his vocal advocacy for traditional leaders’ roles in constitutional processes. The animosity dates back to 2013, when Mureyi lost the Masvingo West National Assembly seat to Zanu PF’s Ezra Chadzamira. Unable to accept a democratic defeat, Mureyi chose to scapegoat Chief Charumbira, alleging that the traditional leader had influenced the vote against him.
In August 2013, Mureyi attempted to use the legal system to silence the Chief (Case No. HH363-13), but the High Court dismissed his application with costs, reinforcing the Chief’s integrity. The roots of the hostility stem from the ongoing Constitutional Amendment Bill consultations.
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Chief Charumbira has been a central figure in these meetings, emphasizing that traditional leaders are the custodians of culture and national stability. Names circulating among the agitators included local activists known for disrupting public forums. Their strategy at the funeral was to frame the Chief as a partisan actor rather than a traditional elder.
However, the attempt backfired as many community members stood by the Chief, insisting that a funeral is a place for tradition and respect, not a venue for political grandstanding. Despite the rowdy behavior of the “teamed-up” gangs, Chief Charumbira remained composed, asserting that his duty is to the people and the preservation of Zimbabwean values. Political analysts have described the smear campaign as a desperate attempt to gain leverage against the Constitutional Amendment Bill by attacking its most influential proponents.
The local community has since condemned the disruption, noting that the “unholy alliance” between the opposition gangs only served to disrespect the bereaved family. Authorities have reiterated that traditional leaders have a constitutional right to engage in national dialogues, regardless of the smear campaigns launched by political rivals.
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