7 NOVEMBER 2021
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) on 3 November 2021 filed a complaint with the
Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Honourable July
Moyo against Chief Fortune Charumbira for contravening section 281 of the
Constitution by participating in partisan politics for comments made on 29 October
2021 at the ZANU PF Annual Conference in Bindura. In his comments Chief Charumbira
declared that “…traditional leaders were owners of ZANU PF and rule everywhere and
that’s what defines their relationship with ZANU PF, we are one people… we will never
leave ZANU PF.”
The latest comments come at a time, the Chief blatantly ignores a 2018 High Court
Order (Election Resource Centre v Chief Fortune Charumbira & Ors HC 1718/18)
compelling him to withdraw partisan comments made, calling on traditional leaders to
support ZANU PF ahead of the 2018 Harmonised elections. The conduct of the Chief, if
left to fester, has the potential to destroy rule of law and constitutional supremacy in
Zimbabwe. The Minister of Local Government and all electoral stakeholders must resist
the temptation to exempt the conduct of Chief Charumbira from necessary scrutiny on
his conduct.
The ERC calls on the Minister of Local Government in terms of section 7 of the Traditional
Leaders Act to investigate the conduct of Chief Charumbira and institute disciplinary
proceedings against the Chief and ensure that the supremacy of the Constitution
prevails.