Award-winning journalist and political commentator Hopewell Chin’ono sharply condemned Chief Ephias Munodawafa (Chief Murinye) on Monday, calling him an “idiot” and accusing him of abusing traditional authority to obstruct children’s access to education.
In a lengthy statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @daddyhope, Chin’ono described the chief’s actions, using his vehicle to block the access road to Riverton Academy Extension, as emblematic of deeper systemic failures in Zimbabwe.
The incident occurred on Sunday as parents attempted to drop off boarding students for the new school term.
“This idiot is a Zimbabwean traditional leader,” Chin’ono said.
“He is blocking a road because there is a private school that was built many years ago in the community that he presides over, and he wants bribes.”
Chin’ono accused many traditional leaders of relying on extortion and blackmail to allow schools and businesses to operate in their areas.
He argued that such behaviour contributes to negative international perceptions of Africans, stating:
“This is one of the reasons other races call us Africans, uncivilised. It is because of clowns like Chief Murinye.”
The journalist highlighted the human impact, noting that children who had travelled long distances, up to hundreds of kilometres, were stranded and potentially forced to return home.
He further criticised the chief for reportedly threatening to release snakes onto the school grounds if classes proceeded, framing it as an active fight against education.
“A traditional leader, who is at the centre of everything he does, should be encouraging education, is blocking the road,” Chin’ono said.
He linked the chief’s boldness to the ruling ZANU-PF party, claiming the government has granted chiefs excessive power in exchange for political control over rural populations.
Chin’ono also lamented the silence of influential community figures, suggesting they fear losing benefits from the political system.
“As a result, an uneducated and delusional character like this chief will continue to exist and abuse power,” he added.
The post quickly gained traction, amassing thousands of views, hundreds of likes, reposts, and replies within hours.
It referenced video footage of the blockade, showing queues of vehicles and confrontations involving parents and the chief.
The controversy stems from a long-standing dispute between Chief Murinye and Riverton Academy owner Philimon Mutangiri.
The chief claims the school extension occupies communal grazing land without proper authorisation, while Mutangiri alleges demands for free tuition for the chief’s children and other concessions.
Police eventually intervened, removing the blockade and allowing access, though not before significant disruption.
Chin’ono’s remarks have reignited broader debate about the role of traditional leaders in modern Zimbabwe, the enforcement of the rule of law in rural areas, and the intersection of customary authority with education and development.
Reactions from social media:
“When a traditional leader abuses power to extort, block roads, and deny children access to education, it exposes a deeper collapse of the rule of law. This is a tragic reflection of how political patronage has normalised impunity and damaged Zimbabwe’s dignity and future.”
“These primitives called chiefs should have gone with their kings. They are simply anti-progress.”
“Imagine driving from wherever, and an uneducated person is blocking the road. Yaiperera kumapurisa. We need to be bold in this country.”
