KHUBVI – Chief Kennedy Midiyavhtahu Tshivhase and his headman, Thinavhudzulo Randima, are involved in a controversy over a land dispute.

Mirror learnt that Randima and his royal household had a meeting together with the senior community members at Khubvi Primary School last Saturday, where they were raising their concerns about "Tshivhase's move to divide the land, Khubvi".

According to Randima, his royal council applied for a court interdict through their lawyer, Robert Ramagwedzha, to prevent Tshivhase from installing one of the Randima family members, (Khotsimunene) Philip Randima, as the headman of the western side of the Khubvi area.

According to Randima, Philip was to be installed as new headman of the divided part last week Saturday. Initially, they wanted to install Mapikule, but they changed that after the community resisted. Even when they approached Philip, the community still resisted the idea," said Randima.

Randima claims Tshivhase wants to divided his area, Khubvi, without the community's consent and his (Randima's) consent "in order to get more headmen under him so that he can be Paramount Chief."

Meanwhile, headman Abraham Ratshalingwa Ramugondo, who is the secretary for the Tshivhase Territorial Council, confirmed that there is a court interdict. He also confirmed the date of the court hearing.

However, Ramugondo said they are not intending to divide Khubvi. He said Randima was not happy that Damani Tea Estates had been given to the Tshivhase Development Trust, "because he wanted it to be his. "The issue is already in court. It is already in the hands of our legal representative, Ace Ndou. I know nothing about the land disputes, except to say that Damani is now under the Tshivhase Development Trust," said Ramugondo.

About the allegation that Tshivhase is trying to increase the number of headmen so that he can be a paramount chief, Ramugondo said there are chiefs who are not recognised by the government. He said they are now registering them with the government as the government circular has indicated so that they can be paid.

"Tshivhase is a King. There is no way he can be a paramount Chief. The national commission will declare his Kingship after it has been established how many chiefs and headmen he would have under him. But Tshivhase now has 78 headmen which makes him qualify to be a King," said Ramugondo.