THE long-running Samambwa chieftainship wrangle in Zhombe has spilled into the High Court with family members demanding that President Robert Mugabe should reverse his decision to appoint Samuel Samambwa as substantive chief.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
In a High Court application, siblings David and Francis Samambwa, through their lawyers Gutu and Chikowero, alleged that Samuel was not the legitimate heir to the throne.
They accused former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo of misleading Mugabe into appointing Samuel.
“The plaintiffs’ claim against the defendants is for the setting aside of 1st Defendant’s (Samuel) appointment as substantive chief Samambwa of Zhombe, Kwekwe District, made on May 27 by the 6th Defendant ( Mugabe),” the two said in their court application.
David claimed as the eldest surviving child of the Samambwa clan, he should be declared chief.
He said Mugabe appointed a new chief without following the customs and traditions of the family.
“As the appointment was contrary to the prevailing culture, customs, traditions and practices of the Samambwa clan and further the appointment having been made without (Mugabe) resolving on the recommendation of the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs, the dispute concerning the appointment between the plaintiffs on the one hand and Samuel on the other,” read the application.
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Samuel is Zanu PF Midlands provincial youth chairman Eddy Samambwa’s father.
David and Francis allege that the name of the new chief should have come from the Provincial Council of Chiefs through the National Council of Chiefs.
Council of Chiefs president Chief Fortune Charumbira, Kwekwe district administrator and Midlands provincial administrator are also cited in the lawsuit as second, third and fourth defendants respectively.
Samuel’s lawyer Valentine Mutatu has since entered an appearance to defend notice but is yet to submit opposing affidavits, according to Gutu and Chikowero law firm.
