The struggle for power in Mbahela Village has taken another turn after more than 15 people were arrested on charges ranging from public violence to malicious damage to property and pointing of a firearm.

The situation turned ugly when the village senior traditional leader, Khosi Nyelisani Mamatsharaga, publicly announced that he was replacing the headman of Musuzungwaneni-Khalilale, Murengisazwothe Mamatsharaga, with Headman Takalani Liphadzi, a move that did not go down well with Murengisazwothe and his supporters. Supported by his subordinates, Murengisazwothe publicly defied the order of his replacement and vowed that he would rule Musuzungwaneni-Khalilale as long as he lived.

Troubles started just a day after Headman Takalani Liphadzi was installed. Liphadzi told Mirror: "I was surveying my land a day after I was installed when I heard the sound of a khwatha (the sacred horn owned by a traditional leader) from the direction of the dethroned headman’s kraal. I went there to investigate because I know that the khwatha is only used with the permission of the senior traditional leader. Besides that, the gathering was illegal because it was reported to the senior traditional leader."

Headman Liphadzi said he grabbed the khwatha from a young man and drove towards the senior traditional leader’s place. "Stones flew like missiles and my vehicle was seriously damaged. I drove at high speed to protect myself until the police came to my rescue." Headman Liphadzi further claims that Headman Murengisazwothe pointed at him with a firearm to scare him.

However, Headman Murengisazwothe is singing a different tune. He accuses Headman Liphadzi of invading his territory since he (Murengisazwothe) still perceives himself as the rightful traditional leader of Musuzungwaneni-Khalilale. "He has invaded my privacy by just bursting onto my land without permission. We have taught him a lesson that he will never forget for the rest of his life. He must respect the fact that I am the traditional leader here, and he is just a commoner. He has started a war that he will never win and it will be wise for him to quit before it is too late. He will never rule this land as long as I live. If it is a war, let it be war," said Headman Murengisazwothe.

In another turn of events, both traditional leaders were arrested and they were granted bail when they appeared in the Mutale Magistrates’ Court. Murengisazwothe was charged with public violence, malicious damage to property and pointing of a firearm. He was released on R1 000 bail.

Headman Liphadzi was charged with common robbery for forcefully grabbing the khwatha and he received bail of R200. More than 12 supporters of Headman Murengisazwothe were released on their own recognisance.