EXPOSED: Chief’s Shakedown – $500 Cash, $7,000 Transformer, and a School Bus Blockade
_By Desire Tshuma_
Masvingo – A bitter feud between Chief Murinye and Philemon Mutangiri, owner of Riverton Academy in Masvingo, has revealed shocking allegations of extortion and abuse of power by the traditional leader.
According to Mutangiri, Chief Murinye demanded $500 cash from him to build a boarding school at Riverton Academy, which he paid. However, the chief allegedly came back with another demand – to have electricity installed at his home, including a transformer that cost $7,000, which Mutangiri also fulfilled.
The final straw came when Chief Murinye demanded that his children be exempted from paying school fees at Riverton Academy. Mutangiri refused, sparking a fallout between the two. The chief then instructed Mutangiri to stop constructing the school unless he met his demands.
Mutangiri approached Masvingo Provincial Minister Hon Ezra Chadzamira, who advised him to proceed with the construction. Chadzamira warned that if Chief Murinye disturbed the construction, he would be arrested.
The community is unhappy with Chief Murinye’s actions. Yesterday, he drove his truck to block the school bus ferrying students to Riverton Academy for the school’s opening. Mutangiri called the police, who managed to resolve the situation and had the truck removed.
“I’ve done everything he asked, but it’s never enough,” Mutangiri said. “I’m not going to be bullied or extorted. I’m committed to providing quality education to our children. We’re offering affordable fees to locals, $150 per term, while external students pay $800.”
Chief Murinye accused his two local headmen of selling the land to Mutangiri for the construction of the school, calling them “landbarons”. Ironically, the chief had also received $500 for allowing the land to be used for the school.
A community member, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “This is not an isolated incident. Many chiefs are involved in extortion and frame false accusations against their subjects to make them pay fines in cattle and goats.”
Similar allegations have been made against other traditional leaders in the region, highlighting concerns about abuse of power and corruption .
