Chadzamira Summons Chief Murinye, Riverton Academy Extension Owner After Road Block Dispute

ZANU-PF Masvingo West Member of Parliament and Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, has reportedly summoned Chief Murinye, born Ephias Munodawafa, and Philimon Mutangiri, owner of Riverton Academy Extension boarding school, after the two clashed over the weekend.

Mutangiri allegedly insulted Chief Murinye by calling him “Musatanyoko,” a highly offensive term, and the chief responded with insults in return.

According to Change Radio, Mutangiri, who was born and raised in the Murinye area, is a relative of Chief Murinye and owns multiple schools and businesses. The new boarding school is located in the Murinye rural area of Masvingo West.

Both Chief Murinye and Mutangiri, who are ZANU-PF members, were summoned by Chadzamira to his offices in Masvingo on Monday morning to resolve their differences peacefully.

During the clash, Chief Murinye and headman Mukamwi used their vehicles to block the road to Riverton Academy Extension.

The chief used his grey car, provided by the government as part of his official package, while headman Mukamwi used a white kombi to obstruct the road.

Chief Murinye claimed that Mutangiri did not consult him as the traditional owner of the land and failed to engage with local community members. As a result, the chief and headman Mukamwi ordered parents to take their children home, saying the school would not open as scheduled the following day.

Many parents returned home, worried about their children’s safety after Chief Murinye threatened to throw snakes into the schoolyard. Some parents, however, left their children at school.

A video circulating on social media shows Mutangiri and Chief Murinye exchanging insults in the presence of senior police officers from Nemamwa.

Mutangiri also alleged that Chief Murinye demanded a large sum of money as a bribe. He said he had connected electricity to the chief’s homestead and bought a US$7,000 transformer for him.

Mutangiri claimed the chief was insisting on a contract ensuring that all his children could attend the school for free. Chief Murinye has more than one wife and many school-aged children.

Chief Murinye is no stranger to controversy. In 2023, he fled on foot while being pursued by villagers in Village 33B after trying to stop a funeral that was already underway.

A mob of villagers, including women, assaulted him, and the police present were unable to intervene because they were outnumbered. A viral video showed the chief cornered, picking up stones to scare off the crowd.

He claimed the burial was taking place in his jurisdiction without his authority, though the area is also claimed by another chief.

More than a dozen villagers were later arrested, convicted of assault, and fined by a court in connection with the incident.