Researched by : Terrence T. Bhebhe
Assisted by :Paul Chigwenzi
Assisted by : Tsitsi Mhute
Transport by: Kalumba Mulenga
Date of Completion : 08/12/2020
Topic Researched : The Musambakaruma Chieftainship
Province : Mashonaland West
District : Kariba
File Submitted to:
Honourable Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri
Honourable Cde Marian Chombo
Cde Nick Mangwana
Senator Chief (President of Chiefs) Fortune Charumbira
Background of Researcher:
l am a Zimbabwean with a huge interest in our Culture and Heritage and has taken it upon myself to undertake a research into this important aspect of our culture with the idea of seeking wisdom and the way forward from our political and government leadership in finding solutions to what l percieve to be the slow but sure dying of our culture. We are self funded and not glory seeking or fortune hunting and with little personal resources we go deeper into our roots to find out where we might be going wrong for the good of those little ones that will inherit our traditions and culture.
The MUSAMBAKARUMA CHIEFTAINSHIP
The Chieftainship belongs to the descendants of Nyatsimbamutota(who most of us read about in history books) who was Chigwededza who had settled in the Zambezi Valley near Kariba and had 3 sons; NYAMADZAWO, CHAVHONGA & KANDARE. They resisted to be moved away from their ancestral land by abussive colonialists and stayed until the three children stated this Chieftainship and agreed that they will rule in a rotational basis in the order from the oldest to the youngest and upon death or incapacitation would pass the Chieftainship to the next in line. So the first to have the opportunity to rule was;
1) NYAMADZAWO : he had his opportunity and ran as the first Chief who later perished with his family after which the next in line was the second to rule,
2) CHAVHONGA : he had children with the following names
Matengambiri
Katemanyoka/Chigwagwa
Siakachona
Chakaora
Siakataminina/Hwezeki
Kakumbo
VaChikunya
and the next to get the opportunity after the death of CHAVHONGA was the third Chief
3) KANDARE ;: however, he had a sister older than him (Vanzame) who held the Chieftainship on his behalf. KANDARE had children Siabhobhoto/Chinodakufa and Mhorepore.
Chieftainship are different depending on how they would have originated. The three children of Nyatsimbamutota who had started this Chieftainship agreed that a house next in line of the Chieftainship would sit down and select a leader of their choice from their house to ascend to the throne and they have been following that without any problems.
THE ORDER OF CHIEFS FROM THE FIRST TO CURRENT;
1) NYAMADZAWO (whose house is nomore)
2) CHAVHONGA came in after NYAMADZAWO
3) KANDARE came in after CHAVHONGA represented by his sister Vanzame who ran through the Chieftainship
4) Siabhobhoto/CHINODAKUFA took over from and from the same KANDARE house and in recognition that the previous Chief was only holding on and was a woman. CHINODAKUFA is the one that got the name Chief Musambakaruma.
5) Matiyasi/PONDOMBIRI came in after CHINODAKUFA and was from CHAVHONGA house and the son of Siakachona.
6) Jefrey Chacharika got in after the death of PONDOMBIRI. He muscled those of the KANDARE house to take their Chieftainship. The son of Mafunde who was married by Mhorepore the younger brother to Siabhobhoto who was married when she was heavily pregnant from and not impregnanted by Mhorepore.
CHACHARIKAs Chieftainship wasnt even supposed to be there in the first place since he didn’t belong to the Kandare people, but still he ran until his death. When he was Chief he increased the number of houses that are supposed to be alternating in this Chieftainship from the two we discussed namely: CHAVHONGA & KANDARE and added MHOREPORE & MAGURANYANGA which did not exist in this Chieftainship before.
After the death of Jefrey Chacharika about 8yrs ago the Musambakaruma Chieftainship has an acting Chief who at the expiry of the initial 5yrs that he was supposed to hand over to a substantive Chief from the CHAVHONGA house, it still hasn’t been done.
7) Acting Chief of the Musambakaruma Chieftainship has been acting for 8yrs now with no real reason as to why this is the caseand that is our main concern as researchers.
We have talked to the people on the ground concerning this Chieftainship and are aware and waiting for the responsible authority to assist them in this issue which is long overdue.
CHIEFS:
Chiefs form an intergral part, the core of our society and have a huge responsibility in the execution if Tribal Administration duties with the assistance of Village Headmen. The are The Judges of Appeal in Tribal disputes and in cases that are civil in nature and their role cannot be overemphasized in the safeguarding of our Cultural Heritage. A people without these Tribal leaders are a lost people.
Throughout Africa and the history of African Traditions; Chiefs lead in Performing Rainmaking Ceremonies, Cleansing of the land with the assistance of Spirit Mediums and leading Thanksgiving ceremonies after harvests etc therefore neglecting their importance is similar to digging graves for our culture and burry it while we are still living.
The Musambakaruma Chieftainship cannot be ignored , they cannot continue with an Acting Chief when, according to our research, The CHAVHONGA house has already done what’s necessary and have submitted the results of their choice of a substantive Chief way back in 2017 and minutes of these meetings and outcome have been sent to various offices including to the DA of Kariba so that a new Chief can be availed to the waiting people.
CONCLUSION:
The New Dispensation under His Excellency President E. D. Mnangagwa has proved beyond doubt it’s capability to solve issues of historical importance that otherwise could have been left to die through endless engagements. Delays in execution of the duty of confirmation and unvailing of the new Chief cannot be an issue to be ignored or shelved since it involves the core of our values of belonging. Its a people whose pride is under the carpet right now and my appeal is that the responsible authority will take cognisance of the importance of this issue and attend to it with the urgency it deserves. 8yrs after the death of a Chief is way too much for us to keep a relaxed mood about this Chieftainship.
As a team, we hope you will guide us with wisdom in this matter.
Thank you
Researcher
Terrence Tinosi Bhebhe
0778761871(WhatsApp) and Calls
tinosiphiri@gmail.com
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