The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
THE Marange community has been plunged into a leadership crisis after the High Court this week nullified the installation of Mr Bernard Murwira Marange (84) as substantive Chief Marange.
Justice David Mangota ordered the dethronement of Mr Marange after it emerged that he had been imposed on the people in violation of the law.
Mr Marange was installed as substantive Chief Marange in October last year, taking over from Chikavadombo Mastick Marange who died in 2005.
His subsequent installation sparked outrage in Marange after villagers protested the decision as improper and irregular.
A member of the Marange family, Mr Zvidzai Dzoma Marange, late last year instructed his lawyer, Mr Charles Warara of Warara and Associates, to challenge the case at the High Court.
Justice Mangota directed the Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of Natural Culture and Heritage, Cde Abednico Ncube, to revisit the dispute and appoint a chief in terms of the law.
He blasted the minister for bungling in the Marange chieftainship wrangle.
“The work of the second respondent (minister) was fraught with an illegality,” said Justice Mangota. “It is invalid. It is nullity. It cannot, therefore, stand.
“The long and short of the stated position is that the event of 27 October 2016 installation should be undone. The second respondent, who is already alive to the dispute of the applicant, and the first respondent will have to revisit the matter which relates to the appointment of a substantive Chief Marange,” he said.
Apparently, Cde Ncube presided over the installation ceremony.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Marange insisted that he was the legitimate chief as he was installed by President Mugabe through Cde Ncube.
“I will not step down,” he said.
“I was legitimately installed by President Mugabe through Minister Ncube. Everything was procedural. I will not be moved by enemies of progress who want to see me down and out.
“I will continue doing my job unless I commit a crime that won’t allow me to continue leading the people of Marange. Ndezvekutungana kwembudzi izvo (It is child’s play).
“The courts can’t remove me except President Mugabe. I will only step down when President Mugabe asks me to do so. I am working full-time,” declared Mr Marange.
When contacted for a comment, Mutare Provincial Administrator Mr Edgars Seenza said he was waiting for guidance from head office on the way forward.
“I am yet to acquire finer details of the whole issue. If that is the case, then I will wait for advice and recommendations from the head office and act accordingly,” he said.
