MASVINGO
–
A
controversial
traditional
leader
on
Sunday
blocked
parents
from
dropping
off
their
children
at
a
newly
established
boarding
school
in
Masvingo,
allegedly
after
the
institution
refused
to
enrol
his
children
free
of
charge.
Ephias
Munodawafa,
the
current
Chief
Murinye,
parked
his
government-issued
Isuzu
vehicle,
which
had
no
number
plates,
across
the
road
leading
to
Riverton
Academy
Extension,
causing
kilometre-long
traffic
queues
on
both
sides.
Parents
had
been
travelling
to
the
school
to
drop
off
pupils
for
the
opening
of
the
first
school
term.
Witnesses
said
Munodawafa
ordered
parents
to
take
their
children
back
home,
insisting
that
the
school
would
not
open
as
scheduled
because
its
owner,
Philimon
Mutangiri,
had
failed
to
seek
his
permission
to
build
the
institution,
the
Masvingo
Mirror
reported.
Mutangiri,
however,
accused
the
chief
of
extortion.
He
told
reporters
that
Munodawafa
had
previously
demanded
that
his
homestead
be
connected
to
electricity,
a
demand
Mutangiri
said
he
complied
with
by
purchasing
a
transformer
valued
at
about
US$7,000.
According
to
Mutangiri,
the
chief
later
returned
with
fresh
demands,
insisting
that
the
school
sign
a
contract
guaranteeing
that
all
his
children
would
attend
the
institution
free
of
charge.
The
school
rejected
the
demand,
leading
to
Sunday’s
standoff.
Police
later
intervened,
prompting
the
chief
to
remove
his
vehicle
and
allow
access
to
the
school.
Murinye
Munodawafa
has
previously
courted
controversy.
In
2023,
he
fled
on
foot
while
being
pursued
by
villagers
in
Village
33B
after
attempting
to
stop
a
funeral
that
was
already
underway.
He
claimed
the
burial
was
taking
place
within
his
jurisdiction
without
his
authority,
although
the
area
is
also
claimed
by
another
chief.
More
than
a
dozen
villagers
were
later
arrested
and
convicted
of
assault
in
connection
with
the
incident
and
were
fined
by
a
court.