By James Gwati-The funeral of the late Chief Chivi, born Tavagwisa Magura, who passed away on January 1 at the age of 105, has been overtaken by Zanu PF leadership in Masvingo, turning it into a platform for political propaganda.
Chief Chivi was a liberation war collaborator and was declared a liberation war hero.
He was laid to rest at his rural home in Maregere Village.
The funeral, ostensibly meant to honour his life and legacy, was heavily politicised by Zanu PF officials.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira, self-styled as the “Chief Mourner,” praised the late chief as a Zanu PF stalwart, stating:
“We gather here today to celebrate and pay our last respects to the life of a selfless leader… Masvingo Province has been left poorer as Cde Tavagwisa Magura was an inspiration in our fight for independence, autonomy, economic emancipation, and national sovereignty.”
The sentiment was echoed by Senator Chief Chitanga, who emphasised the late chief’s role in local governance and his contribution to the Chiefs Council, and by Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Chairperson Senator Robson Mavhenyengwa, who highlighted Chief Chivi’s unwavering support for Zanu PF as a former district leader.
Chief Chivi’s life intertwined traditional leadership and political involvement.
Born on July 15, 1919, in Chivi District, he completed his early education at Nyevedzanai Primary School and later worked for various organisations, including Shabanie and Mashava Mines and the Public Works Department.
During the liberation struggle, he became a war collaborator at Chitonje War Base in 1976 and remained aligned with Zanu PF post-independence, serving as a district chairman before his installation as Chief Chivi in 2012.
While the late chief’s contributions to his community and the liberation struggle are undeniable, the overt politicisation of his funeral underscores Zanu PF’s strategy of co-opting traditional leaders for political gain.
Chiefs in Zimbabwe wield significant influence in rural communities, and under Zanu PF’s governance, their authority has often been leveraged to consolidate party dominance and control rural voting blocs.
Chief Chivi is survived by two wives, 12 children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.