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*Chief Makoni Blocks Highway Protesting 'Annexation' Of His Land*

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Chief Makoni recently led hundreds of his subjects to demonstrate against what they consider the annexation of their ancestral land by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

The protestors blocked the Mutare-Harare Road in Rusape for nearly an hour as they sang Chimurenga songs in protest over the takeover of their land.

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Chief Makoni, born Colgan Simbayi Gwasira; his wife, Redempter Gwasira; headmen, village heads and several other clansmen led the protestors on Wednesday last week.

The procession marched from Chief Makoni’s Court along Chingaira Street and went to Manda Avenue and then Chimurenga Street, which is part of the Mutare-Harare Highway, thereby blocking traffic.

Chief Makoni and his wife sat on the tarmac as they were circled by their singing subject and attempts by the police to disperse them were fruitless.

The demonstration was sparked by the publishing of a Government Gazette that showed that a huge chunk of Chief Makoni’s land was allocated to Chiefs Chiduku, Tandi, Chikore and Chipunza, reported The Manica Post.

Last month, Chiefs Chiduku and Tandi reportedly began moving into Chief Makoni territory and installing headmen and village heads, a development said to have angered Chief Makoni.

Speaking during an interview with The Manica Post, Chief Makoni said that a large part of his territory had been taken away from him. He said:

> Three weeks ago a chief director in the Local Government ministry, Mr (Felix) Chikowo addressed rural district councils’ chief executive officers and said he had been sent by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo to advise Makoni Rural District Council that the issue of boundaries had been settled. It was declared that he had given Chiefs Chiduku and Tandi our land.

> All the southern parts of Makoni, including those under substantive headmen Masvosva, Bvekerwa, Mupambawahle, Rukweza, Nyamombe and all resettlements such as Romsely and Nyamapembere, are said to have been allocated to the two chiefs.

> They also took our sacred mountains such as Chirimutsitu which the whites christened the Devil’s Pass after a lot of them perished during a war. They also took Mt Manda and the entire Rusape town.

> To the west, they gave it to Chief Tandi, the entire Headlands have been allocated to Chief Chipunza and North East has been allocated to Chief Chikore. This means about 90 percent of the Makoni territory has been allocated to other chiefs.

> We are now only left with Gandanzara, Chiendambuya north and Dowa. It is like South Africa losing its vast territory to countries like Swaziland and Lesotho, can you imagine that?

> This issue started in 2017, but we challenged the move and the Government Gazette was withdrawn.

> Now Minister Moyo has escalated the matter to another level and we approached him raising our objection, but he told us that our Makoni District belongs to the Rozvi Dynasty.

In a statement, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works said Chief Makoni approached the High Court appealing against a proclamation that was made in a Government Gazette that placed communities in Rusape resettlement under five Rusape chiefs after consultations as required by Section 29 of the Traditional Leaders’ Act.

The statement said the matter was thrown out by the High Court and Chief Makoni was supposed to appeal to the Supreme Court if he was not happy with the High Court ruling, rather than engaging in an illegal demonstration.

Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Edgars Seenza, said he was aware of the demonstration and was waiting for a detailed report from the Makoni District Development Coordinator which will be forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, Manicaland Chapter chairman, Chief Makumbe condemned the demonstration. He said:

> We were surprised to hear that Chief Makoni resorted to a demonstration to air his grievances. He took us to court over the issue and a ruling was made.

> If he was not happy with the outcome, he knows the proper channels to follow. By demonstrating, he was doing so against who and to get what? Did he exhaust all the prescribed channels to have his grievances heard?

> We condemn such behaviour as it is uncultured. As traditional leaders, we should lead by example. It is unheard of for a traditional leader to lead his or her subjects to revolt against the Government. Disputes should be solved using laid down procedures and not taking the law into our own hands.

> We should revisit the Traditional Leaders Act and incorporate the issue of disciplinary measures that will be meted on violators of the law and policies.

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