Nyajena succession row deepens as rival clan members fight over chieftainship
A succession dispute within the Nyajena royal family in Zimbabwe has reached the High Court, with rival clan members challenging the appointment of Last Dzivakwe as chief. The court dismissed an urgent application to stop the installation, noting that the event had already occurred.
Why it matters
The case illustrates the intersection of traditional leadership structures and modern legal systems in Zimbabwe, highlighting the complexities of chieftainship succession and government intervention.
A SUCCESSION fight within the Nyajena royal family has spilled into the High Court, with relatives Isaac Jerera and Haruzivishe Jerera challenging the appointment of Last Dzivakwe as substantive Chief Nyajena.
The Jereras say Dzivakwe’s appointment breached the clan’s customary succession process and could cause conflict and division within the community, while Dzivakwe insists he was lawfully appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after pursuing his claim through the government.
The dispute has already spawned a separate High Court review application, with the latest case concerning the Jereras’ attempt to stop Dzivakwe’s installation pending the outcome of that challenge.
Justice Neville Wamambo, however, has struck the urgent application off the roll, finding that the applicants moved too late and that the May 9 installation they wanted stopped had already taken place.
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