MASVINGO – Traditional leaders in Masvingo on Monday voted overwhelmingly to recall Chief Fortune Charumbira and two other chiefs from the National Council of Chiefs in a surprise move that appears linked to Zanu PF’s succession politics.

The recall, if formally effected, would result in the three losing their seats in the Senate.

Forty-two of the 45 Masvingo chiefs who met at a hotel in Masvingo voted for a motion to recall Charumbira, Chief Chitanga (real name Feleni Chauke) of Mwenezi, and Chief Nhema (Rangarirai Bwawanda) of Zaka, the Masvingo Mirror reported.

No reasons were given for the proposed recalls.

The motion was moved by Chief Nemanwa, real name Fungai Manjiva, who was only appointed as chief last month. His jurisdiction covers Great Zimbabwe.

Masvingo provincial minister Ezra Chadzamira and Zanu PF provincial chairman Rabson Mavenyengwa attended the meeting, adding to indications that the move was politically motivated.

Zanu PF has embarked on a nationwide purge of officials accused of failing to enthusiastically support constitutional amendments extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term or of being lukewarm towards the proposal.

It is unclear whether the three chiefs were being punished for their position on the constitutional changes, but Chadzamira recently told a Zanu PF meeting that “there would be gnashing of teeth”.

Chief Chitanga confirmed the vote to recall the three chiefs.

“Yes, we have been booted out. Forty-two out of forty-five chiefs voted in favour of the motion,” he said.

The National Council of Chiefs is the statutory body representing traditional leaders in Zimbabwe.

Chiefs who sit on the council are elected by their peers at provincial assemblies. Once elected to the council, they can then be elected to the Senate.

Under the Constitution, 16 chiefs – two from each of the eight non-metropolitan provinces – are elected to the Senate. The president and deputy president of the National Council of Chiefs also sit in the Senate ex officio, giving traditional leaders a guaranteed 18 seats in the 90-member chamber.

Charumbira, a former president of the council, is currently its deputy president under Chief Lucas Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi in Matabeleland North. He also sits in the Senate.

The Masvingo provincial assembly’s decision means Charumbira, Chitanga and Nhema, who represent the province in the Senate, now face recall.

The political significance of the move is heightened by Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which extended Mnangagwa’s term to 2030 and scrapped the direct election of the president in favour of a joint vote by MPs and senators.

That change has increased the political importance of the Senate and, in turn, the chiefs’ seats in the chamber.

Traditional leaders are required to be politically neutral under the constitution, by they unfailingly vote with Zanu PF lawmakers in the Senate.