Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
FORMER acting Chief Saurombe, Raymond Saurombe, was last week convicted and sentenced to three months in jail, with an option to pay a fine of US$300 for impersonating his successor.
Mutare magistrate, Mrs Ivy Musavengana, presided over the matter, while Mr Thurstone Mubvumbi prosecuted.
The offence came to light after Saurombe continued to preside over community disputes, and performing other chiefly duties despite the expiry of his tenure, and appointment of a substantive chief — Chief Oliver Saurombe — in October 2023.
The new Chief Saurombe was officially installed in July.
However, despite the substantive appointment, Raymond Saurombe continued performing chiefly duties, thereby disregarding the appointment and authority of his successor.
He was arrested by a team from Criminal Investigation Department (CID)’s Law and Order in Mutare after a complaint from the substantive Chief Saurombe (86) — through his son, Prince Tendai Saurombe.
Saurombe denied the charges of impersonating a traditional leader.
“Sometime in 2016, the accused person was appointed by the Saurombe family as the acting Chief Saurombe until the appointment of a substantive chief, which was approved by President Mnangagwa. He started presiding over the community court in Saurombe area, among other chiefly duties.
“On October 9, 2023, President Mnangagwa in terms of Section 283 (a) (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Traditional Leaders’ Act, Chapter 29:17, appointed Mr Oliver Saurombe as the substantive Chief Saurombe, and Raymond Saurombe was informed of the development,” he said.
Mr Mubvumbi said on October 19, 2023, the substantive Chief Saurombe gave special and irrevocable power of attorney to his son, Prince Tendai Saurombe (56), to act as Chief Saurombe due to his ill-health.
“However, the former acting chief continued conducting the official duties of Chief Saurombe, well aware that a substantive chief had been appointed.
On April 6, Prince Tendai Saurombe made a police report that the former acting chief was impersonating Chief Saurombe by conducting official duties and presiding over the chief’s court in the Saurombe area of Chimanimani.
“On April 7, a team from CID Law and Order visited Saurombe area, and found the former acting chief at Chief Saurombe’s community court where he was presiding over the community disputes fully aware that Oliver Saurombe had been appointed as the substantive Chief Saurombe,” said Mr Mubvumbi.
He was immediately arrested and taken to CID Law and Order in Mutare.
