Headman Forichi
Chisumbanje a Hero of Land Rights and Social Justice in Chipinge
Headman Forichi Chisumbanje
passed away on 17th of September 2019 after a short illness, and was
buried on Friday the 20th of September 2019 in Chisumbanje. The death
of Headman Chisumbanje is a heavy blow to the land rights and social justice
movement in Chipinge District, as he was a vital cog in the land rights and
social justice advocacy. Mourners who attended and spoke at the funeral of
headman Chisumbanje unanimously agreed that the late headman was an irreplaceable
character who gave the community direction in the land dispute between the
community and Greenfuel Pvt Ltd. His passing on created a sombre atmosphere in
Chisumbanje,since it was an emotional moment for land rights and social justice
activists in the area.
His counterpart within the land
struggle, Headman Phineas Chinyamukwakwa admitted that the land struggle for
justice and beneficiation will be poorer in the community without the
personality of headman Chisumbanje. He was the spirit behind the community
resistance to arbitrary communal land take over without respecting traditional
leadership as well as local customs.
His value was echoed by village head,
Leonard Uchaka Muyondozi who described the headman as a rare breed of
traditional leaders of our time. Headman Chisumbanje practiced effective
delegation in terms of serving leadership tasks, an approach which made him to
be revered and respected by both the young and elderly in the village.
“We have lost a firm and
consistent leader who believed in a stakeholder approach in achieving community
beneficiation within the framework of the land dispute.” Village Head
Muyondozi told mourners.
The burial was attended by
members of the Christian community, business community and various community
stakeholders. People of different walks of life who attended the burial also
appreciated the role played by a local community based organisation, Platform
for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) for leadership on the land dispute
as well as taking an active role in laying to rest headman Chisumbanje. The local
community based organisation PYCD had to postpone its activities that were
lined up for the weekend of 20th – 22nd of September 2019
in order to accord a decent and dignified send off to one of the community key
stakeholder in land rights and social justice.
“We had to postpone all our
weekend activities to pay our last respect to Headman Forichi Chisumbanje who
was a pillar of strength to PYCD’s advocacy work since 2009.” PYCD
Director, Mr Claris Madhuku said.
The ongoing land dispute in
Chisumbanje and Chinyamukwakwa involving the community on one side and Green fuel
Pvt Ltd, Chipinge Rural District Council and ARDA on the other hand has taken
many dimensions that include confrontation, dialogue and legal processes. PYCD
has been mandated by the community stakeholders to continue with the advocacy
work on the land dispute to ensure that villagers are not inconvenienced by the
Green fuel investment so that proper and adequate compensation is attained by
the villagers. This can only be achieved through just and equitable land
investment policy framework that addresses community beneficiation adequately. This
is possible through the empowerment of a stakeholder dialogue platform where
issues that affect the villagers and the Green fuel project stakeholders, are
discussed and addressed for actioning.