Three village heads losing their posts over a friendship has blown the lid off a much uglier feud between a Masvingo chief and a local school builder.
Chief Murinye boots three village heads in Masvingo
Chief Murinye boots three village heads in Masvingo
- Controversial traditional leader Chief Murinye, born Ephias Munodawafa, expelled Headmen Makuwe, Machingura, and Mukamwe.
- All three were axed for allegedly being too cozy with educationist and businessman Philimon Mutangiri.
- One dismissed headman said they each paid large sums of money and cattle to secure their positions.
- Murinye confirmed the suspensions but called it a strictly internal matter.
- Mutangiri built the school on land Chief Murinye claims is communal pastoral ground used without his consent.
- Murinye physically blocked road access with his vehicle in January 2026, stopping parents and students from getting in.
- Mutangiri alleges Murinye demanded US$7,000 for electricity at his homestead and free enrollment for his children.
- CID Law and Order in Masvingo pulled Murinye in on February 27 and recorded a warned-and-cautioned statement on the extortion allegations.
- Both the police and the Minister of State for Masvingo stepped in to broker a short-term fix.
- Murinye agreed to let the school operate temporarily while the land and authorization dispute gets sorted out.
- Mutangiri maintains he had every right to build the school and invested heavily to cut long travel distances for students.
- No permanent resolution over land ownership or authorization has been reached yet.
