Chief Murinye has been summoned to the office of Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira following a tense standoff that threatened to derail the historic opening of Riverton Extension Murinye School in Masvingo Rural on Monday morning.
The traditional leader openly and physically blocked parents and guardians from accessing the school, an incident captured on video that is now circulating widely on social media. In the footage, the chief is seen standing on the road leading to the school and heard declaring that “the President – Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa) knows that I am the chief,” as he prevented vehicles from passing. On the opposite side, the school owner, businessman Mutangiri, is also heard responding, with the two exchanging words in full view of parents, learners and community members.
The confrontation reportedly stemmed from the chief’s insistence that he had not been formally notified about the school extension. Mutangiri countered by stating that he had followed due process by engaging local headmen, a claim that found support among villagers, parents and community members who then rallied to ensure that the school opening proceeded as scheduled, citing the learners’ right to education.
Within Zimbabwe’s traditional governance framework, headmen are responsible for managing settlement and land-related processes at local level. They oversee the admission of new settlers, keep official records, and communicate developments to both the chief and the rural district council. Typically, applications are initiated at village head level before being referred to the headman, who works with the ward assembly and makes recommendations to the chief. However, final approval of land allocation and related developments lies with the rural district council, not traditional leaders acting unilaterally.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, particularly within education and governance circles, as it directly touches on the constitutional right to education. Section 75 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to basic education, placing a legal and moral obligation on all authorities, traditional or otherwise, to protect learners, not obstruct them.
Parents say they were left stranded and distressed after roads leading to Riverton Academy were blocked, disrupting learning for hundreds, potentially thousands, of children. Many argue that disputes between individuals should never be settled at the expense of pupils’ futures.
Chief Murinye, born Ephias Munodawafa, is no stranger to controversy. Three years ago, he was assaulted by an angry mob at a funeral in his area after refusing a burial request on sacred land. He has also previously drawn national attention after publicly criticising President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom he claimed was his nephew, warning against corruption around the presidency, remarks that attracted sharp backlash from senior political figures.
As the Minister’s meeting takes place, eyes are now on provincial authorities to reaffirm the rule of law, depoliticise education spaces, and ensure schools remain zones of learning, not conflict. For parents in Murinye, the message is simple: children must never be bargaining chips.
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