Controversial Masvingo traditional leader Ephias Munodawafa, the current Chief Murinye, has insisted that Riverton Academy does not legally exist, even though it has a boarding school with a capacity of about 1,000 learners in Murinye Extension.
On Sunday, 11 January 2026, Murinye parked his government-issued Isuzu across the road leading to Riverton Academy Extension, blocking parents from taking their children to the school.
He claimed that the school’s owner, Philimon Mutangiri, had failed to seek his permission to build the institution in an area under his jurisdiction.
On Monday, 12 January 2026, Chief Murinye maintained that the school had not been established in accordance with the country’s laws. He said:
“Firstly, due process was not followed. All I know is that an application was made to the council and that application has not yet been completed.
“And as a matter of fact, I sit at the top of the administrative point of the Murinye communities.
“And I authorise any developmental project that takes place in the area. I am the chief. I am not anti-development.
“But what is fundamental is that anybody who wants to come and invest should do so within the ambit of the law.
“You cannot just come and then allocate yourself a piece of land in the grazing lands like Mr Mutangiri has done.
“And then develop that piece for your personal aggrandisement at the expense of poor villagers.
“So that is the reason why we ended up blocking because we tried to engage with him on several occasions.
“But because he was adamant, he went on, he proceeded to build the school against our advice.
“There is no license given by the Ministry of Education to authorise that school at the moment. It’s an illegal school.
“But when we tried to engage with him, he became arrogant. And then we decided to block the the the the the road to the school.”
Chief Murinye claimed that Mutangiri bribed two village heads, forcing them to hand over 30 hectares of land in their villages, which are already crowded with residents.
He said he summoned the village heads, including the headmen, and fined the headmen three heads of cattle over the matter. Added Murinye:
“I fined each one of the village heads one head of cattle because I couldn’t, okay, it was an act of misconduct in the first instance.
“But I realised it was the first act of misconduct. And then I decided to fine them instead of firing them. Right?
“And now, when it comes to the school, the school is charging $800 per child. No child from Murinye communities can afford those kinds of fees.
“If they cannot afford $48 at the primary school, how could they afford $800 or even if he says $150, nobody can afford that school.
“So it’s his personal property that he has apportioned to himself from communal land without the authorisation of myself and my lieutenants as traditional leaders.”
Chief Murinye said he lifted the blockade on Sunday after the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, asked him to do so.
He added that he had travelled to Masvingo on Monday to meet with Chadzamira in accordance with the Constitution. Said Murinye:
“Section 283 says the chief, while in the performance of his duties, is not under the authority of anybody.
“He carries out his decisions, you know, independently. And this is exactly what I did because I had to protect my communities. I didn’t violate any law.”
He said that if Mutangiri wants to build a school, he should follow the proper process, and the traditional leaders will help identify a suitable site for it.
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