KING Munhumutapa, born Timothy Chiminya, has approached the High Court and filed a notice to bar Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe from interfering with his kingship.
Chiminya yesterday confirmed the notice to bar, saying the Local Government minister “now has no say in the Munhumutapa kingship”.
In May this year, Garwe dismissed Chiminya as a “fraudulent impostor” saying government did not recognise his kingship.
“Be pleased to take notice that plaintiff (Chiminya) wishes to file notice to bar. The plaintiff having issued summons in the matter, the defendant (Garwe) failed to defend the matter as per rules. Plaintiff hereby files this bar on defendant,” read the High Court notice dated August 14, 2024.
Chiminya has maintained that his actions are guided by a 2022 High Court order which declared him King Munhumutapa.
In the High Court case number HC 3981/22, between Chiminya and the then Local Government minister, it was “ordered by consent that the plaintiff Timothy Chiminya is hereby declared Mambo Munhumutapa”.
In a recent High Court affidavit dated July 18, 2024, in which he is a respondent, Chiminya said the 2022 High Court affidavit was still valid.
“The order is still valid because the judgment of the rescission of case HCH 6672/22 is the one that set aside not the court order by the judge,” Chiminya said.
He said Zanu PF and the Office of the President recognised him as King Munhumutapa and that the ruling party invited him to national functions and that he occasionally carried out “rituals at national level”.
A letter dated August 2, 2024 written by Zanu PF director for local government, devolution and housing Clever Marisa requested chief director for traditional leadership, Felix Chikovo, to assist Chiminya to carry out national rituals at Matopos and Great Zimbabwe monuments.
“The Zanu PF party’s department for local government is recommending the following traditional leaders clearance/referral letters to conduct national rituals at Matopos and Great Zimbabwe monuments and they are Mr Timothy Chiminya as Mambo Munhumutapa, Mr Masimba Rubatika, Mr Claudius Nyashanu Choga, Mr Amos Jacha and accordingly we refer them to your good office for assistance,” the letter read.