King Munhumutapa Jailed For Undermining Mnangagwa AuthorityTimothy Chiminya (58), who has long referred to himself as “King Munhumutapa,” has been jailed for eight months after the Harare Magistrates’ Court found him guilty of undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.According to the court, Chiminya spent several years — from
2019 to 2024 — attempting to override and interfere with the official appointment of Chief Nyakunhuwa. Despite continuous Government warnings instructing him to stop presenting himself as a parallel authority, he persisted, leading the State to treat his conduct as a direct defiance of presidential powers.
Magistrates imposed a 10-month custodial sentence, with two months suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving Chiminya to serve an effective eight months.
The case comes at a time when President Mnangagwa has increasingly associated himself with the historical Munhumutapa legacy. His birthday has already been rebranded as “Munhumutapa Day,” with critics suggesting the State is tightening control over cultural and historical narratives.
