Trust Rukwava
Centre News Hub
Masvingo-Prominent Masvingo businessman Philimon Mutangiri, who is the proprietor of Riverton Academy of Schools, has won a High Court case against Chief Murinye, born Ephias Munodawafa, in a matter set before the Masvingo High Court.
Justice Christopher Dube Banda put the longstanding dispute to rest which began at the commencement of the new school term in January 2026 when the Chief contended that he was not consulted in the process leading to the construction of Riverton Murinye School and blocked the parents from dropping their children at the school.
Mutangiri sought the relief of the courts and filed an urgent chamber application under case number HCMSC 14/26 seeking an interdict to stop the blockade which was granted by Zisengwe J which the Chief challenged by exercising customary power when the Chief summoned Mutangiri to appear before his community court on 11 February 2026 to answer allegations of building a school on a sacred place and uttering words undermining the Chief.
Mutangiri, through his lawyer Ostern Mutero of Sawyer and Mukushi legal practitioners, applied to the High Court challenging the summons, arguing that the Chief’s summons is calculated to undercut the pending litigation in HCMSC 14/26 and is therefore unreasonable and grossly irregular, and unfair in that the Chief is the complainant and judicial officer in a matter where he is the complainant.
Mutero also averred that the Chief has exceeded his powers as the Chief, in that he is motivated by malice and must be held personally responsible for his misdeeds.
In delivering his judgement the Judge ruled that the summons issued by the Chief on 1 February 2026, summoning Mutangiri to attend court on 11 February 2026, be set aside.
He also ruled that the proceedings held before the Chief in pursuance of the summons issued on 1 February 2026 are invalid and set aside, putting the matter to rest.
