On 15 August 2025, Princess Silibaziso Mlotshwa, aged 31, was officially installed as the substantive Chief Mvuthu in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe. She was appointed to this position by the President of Zimbabwe, effective 16 May 2025. The ceremony, attended by over 1000 people and presided over by Deputy Minister Albert Mavhunga of Local Government and Public Works, included the presentation of a vehicle and symbolic items of authority such as the royal rod, traditional red robe, chain, and hat.
Princess Silibaziso Mlotshwa proudly serves as the inaugural woman to occupy the position of substantive chief in Matabeleland North, representing a significant milestone in history. She is the eighth woman to attain this role nationwide in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, four other women currently serving as chiefs in Matabeleland South Province exemplify the expanding emergence of women traditional leaders throughout the region. Her appointment and installation adhered to the 2020 judgment of the Bulawayo High Court in the case of Silibaziso Mlotshwa v District Administrator, Hwange N.O. & Saunders Mlotshwa, which declared the initial nomination by the District Administrator void and mandated that the District Administrator reconvene a meeting to select a chief, ensuring the process was conducted lawfully within the constitutional principles of human dignity and equality before the law.
The Deputy Minister expressed joy at the installation of a female traditional leader, reiterating the role of traditional leaders in preserving culture, sustaining the social fabric and advancing community development.
The President of the National Council of Chiefs, Senator Chief Mtshane Khumalo, was also present at the inauguration. He stressed the necessity of complying with the courts’ decisions and stated that the Constitution’s provisions on equality and non-discrimination must prevail in all matters, including issues relating to culture and tradition.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission was represented by the Chairperson, Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, who also expressed joy in the inauguration of a female chief, articulating the hope that more female chiefs would be appointed in future.
“The appointment and installation of Princess Silibaziso Mlotshwa as the substantive Chief Mvuthu, is an important step that has been taken by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, towards fulfilling the promise to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life, including royal powers,” says Brigadier Siachitema, from the Southern Africa Litigation Centre who attended the installation ceremony. “The limited participation of women in traditional leadership roles in Southern Africa arises not only from enduring discriminatory laws and practices, as well as the failure of domestic courts to offer remedies against such exclusion, but also primarily from the shortcomings of the leaders of various nations, who serve as the appointing authorities.”
“This victory is not mine alone. It belongs to every young girl who dreams of leading, to every woman told she cannot,” said Chief Mvuthu.
Factual background to the case
Chief Mvuthu is the eldest daughter of the late Chief Nyangayezizwe Mvuthu Mlotshwa. After the Chief’s death in 2014, the District Administrator seconded Chief Mvuthu’s uncle as the next Chief Mvuthu, sidelining then Princess Silibaziso Mlotshwa, as the eldest child of the late Chief, solely on account of her gender. In 2015, Princess Silibaziso took her case to the High Court of Zimbabwe to challenge the nomination. Her matter later moved to the Supreme Court, and subsequently to the Constitutional Court, before being remitted back to the High Court. In 2018, with the continued support of the Southern African Litigation Centre( SALC), Princess Silibaziso Mlotshwa, brought a mandamus application in the High Court to compel the District Administrator to act lawfully.
On 25 June 2020, the Bulawayo High Court, per Justice Takuva, issued a judgment in the case of Silibaziso Mlotshwa v District Administrator, Hwange N.O & Saunders Mlotshwa, and found that the District Administrator, being fully aware of the constitutional provisions of equality and non-discrimination, proceeded to carry out his duties in terms of Section 3 of the Traditional Leaders Act in a discriminatory manner. The Court declared the initial nomination by the District Administrator void and ordered that District Administrator reconvene a meeting within 60 days to select a chief.
The Court further compelled the District Administrator to act lawfully during the selection process, within the constitutional dictates of human dignity and equality before the law. The Court compelled the District Administrator to make lawful recommendations to the President regarding the appointee to the Mvuthu Chieftainship per the constitutional imperatives of human dignity, non-discrimination and equality. However, during the selection meeting held on 28 September 2020, the gender discrimination and degradation of Princess Silibaziso worsened.
Chief Mvuthu was represented by Advocate Perpetua Dube and Thulani Ndlovu from Sansole and Senda legal practitioners, with the support of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.
Additional information on the case is available on the website