A man who claimed to be King Munhumutapa left jail this week after a High Court gave him bail. Timothy Chiminya had been in prison for over a month. The police put him there because he said bad things about President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The law says Chiminya went against the president's power. He told people a spirit gave him the right to be king and name new chiefs in Zimbabwe.
Court papers say Chiminya went to Chief Seke's house in February 2024. There, he met Stanley Chimanike, the real Chief Seke. Chiminya told him he was not chief anymore. He said Masimba Rubatika would be chief instead.
Chimanike went to tell the Local Government office about this on June 11, 2024. Between June and October 2024, Chiminya kept naming more chiefs. He picked Julius Chimbi as Chief Chigegwe and Hama Piki in Chirumanzu. He also made someone Chief Nyakunhuwa in Zaka, Masvingo.
The court says these acts were wrong. Under Zimbabwe's laws, only the president can name chiefs. By doing this, Chiminya made fun of the president's office and created his own power system.
A lower court judge, Isheanesu Matova, first said no to letting Chiminya out. The judge thought he might cause fights between the real chiefs and the ones he picked.
But Chiminya's lawyer, Gift Mtisi from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, asked a higher court for help. High Court Judge Faith Mushure said yes to bail. She asked for US$200 or the same amount in ZiG money.
The judge set rules for Chiminya. He must stay near the Harare Central Police Station, no more than 25 kilometers away. He must tell the police he's there two times each week, on Monday and Friday. He gave his passport to the court and must live at his house. He can't talk to people who might tell the court about his case.
Chiminya will come back to court on March 5, 2025.
The law says Chiminya went against the president's power. He told people a spirit gave him the right to be king and name new chiefs in Zimbabwe.
Court papers say Chiminya went to Chief Seke's house in February 2024. There, he met Stanley Chimanike, the real Chief Seke. Chiminya told him he was not chief anymore. He said Masimba Rubatika would be chief instead.
Chimanike went to tell the Local Government office about this on June 11, 2024. Between June and October 2024, Chiminya kept naming more chiefs. He picked Julius Chimbi as Chief Chigegwe and Hama Piki in Chirumanzu. He also made someone Chief Nyakunhuwa in Zaka, Masvingo.
The court says these acts were wrong. Under Zimbabwe's laws, only the president can name chiefs. By doing this, Chiminya made fun of the president's office and created his own power system.
A lower court judge, Isheanesu Matova, first said no to letting Chiminya out. The judge thought he might cause fights between the real chiefs and the ones he picked.
But Chiminya's lawyer, Gift Mtisi from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, asked a higher court for help. High Court Judge Faith Mushure said yes to bail. She asked for US$200 or the same amount in ZiG money.
The judge set rules for Chiminya. He must stay near the Harare Central Police Station, no more than 25 kilometers away. He must tell the police he's there two times each week, on Monday and Friday. He gave his passport to the court and must live at his house. He can't talk to people who might tell the court about his case.
Chiminya will come back to court on March 5, 2025.
