Controversial political and social commentator Rutendo Matinyarare has leapt to the defence of Masvingo traditional leader Chief Murinye, who opposes the construction of a boarding school on communal land in his area.
On Saturday, 11 January 2026, Chief Murinye, born Elias Munodawafa and a lawyer by profession, blocked the road leading to Riverton Academy-Murinye, a school built by Philemon Mutangiri on communal land.
The situation escalated over the weekend as numerous vehicles transporting parents and students were stopped by the Chief, who used his Isuzu truck to block access.
The standoff between Chief Murinye and Mutangiri prompted the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, to summon both parties to his offices on Monday to resolve the issue.
During the meeting, it was revealed that Riverton Academy-Murinye had not fully complied with all regulations required to operate legally. Chadzamira directed that learners should continue attending classes while the school is being regularised.
However, Chief Murinye argued that the school was built on grazing land for villagers, and Mutangiri had not sought approval from him or other traditional leaders before construction.
The Chief insisted that the school should be demolished and a suitable site found after Mutangiri follows the proper procedures.
Posting on X, Matinyarare raised key questions, including whether Mutangiri followed due process, whether there was public consultation, whether community leaders and the Ministry had granted permission, and whether communal grazing land was taken and privatised to build a private school. Said Matinyarare:
“Was due process followed by the school builder? Was there public consultation?
“Were the permissions from community leaders and ministry given to the school builder?
“Did he take communal land and grazing land (public land) and privatize it to build a private school? This is an illegal sabuku deal if he did.
“Where must the community graze their cattle now that there is a school in their grazing land?
“Grazing land impacts national herd building, rural cattle ownership, food security and the savings of communities which lie in their cattle.
“Our national herd has been declining due to privatization of grazing land through illegal sabuku deals.
“Yet grazing land has a higher public interest while privatization of communal lands is illegal. We have seen how this destroys lives and increases crime in South Africa.
“The issue must be taken to court bearing in mind that Murinye is a lawyer by training and he is the custodian of the Great Zimbabwe.
“If he is not strict, that whole area will turn into a township and the national heritage destroyed with it.”
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