Bulilima District’s Ward 2 Councillor, Mabed Ngulani, has paid tribute to the late Chief Kandana, describing him as a humble leader, a friend to all, and a staunch opponent of toxic politics.
Chief Kandana, born Michael Magutshwa, passed away on Saturday evening at 72 after a short illness at Plumtree Hospital.
Ngulani, who also served as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Nigeria, lauded Chief Kandana’s leadership, noting his approachable nature and dedication to conflict resolution within his community.
“I can only use one word to describe him: the best chief ever. There are chiefs, and then there was Chief Kandana—a true people’s person, full of humility,” Ngulani said in an interview with CITE.
Chief Kandana, installed as chief in 2007, succeeded his father, Jackpot Magutshwa, who had served as a headman. Throughout his tenure, Chief Kandana was renowned for his ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
“The chief interacted with everyone—men, women, young, old, rich, poor. Chief Kandana was a friend to everybody,” Ngulani added.
Ngulani highlighted Chief Kandana’s role as a problem solver, preferring to resolve issues internally before involving authorities.
“He was very approachable, always ready to listen. In KoKandana, there were few conflicts because he ensured issues were resolved internally before involving his policemen. He would bring people together to discuss matters—that’s how he led,” Ngulani said.
As a strong opponent of divisive politics, Chief Kandana ensured that last year’s elections in his ward were free from incidents, according to Ngulani, who was elected on a Citizens for Coalition for Change (CCC) ticket.
“Chief Kandana despised toxic politics. That’s why our last election was incident-free. He abhorred political rhetoric at funerals and believed that politics should not divide people,” Ngulani noted.
Ngulani also reflected on Chief Kandana’s consistent presence in the community, saying, “Chief Kandana was always available.”
“You could call him for a funeral, a birthday party, or any family gathering—Chief Kandana was always there. He was truly a man of the people,” he said.
While Chief Kandana had been dealing with health issues for some time, the exact cause of his death remains unclear. Ngulani speculated that a troublesome wound on the chief’s leg might have contributed to his passing.
“The chief had been ill for some time, and I don’t know what the final cause was, but he had a troublesome wound on his leg. I don’t know if it healed. I don’t know the real cause of death, but I suspect it might have been the sore on his leg,” Ngulani said.
Chief Kandana’s jurisdiction covered a vast area, from Solusi and Figtree to the easternmost points, including Mbokodo, Marula, Tshankwa, Somene, Nyabane, Mbila, and Mapango, with shared boundaries alongside Chief Manguba and Chief Mphini.
Ngulani indicated that Chief Kandana’s burial is likely to take place on Saturday.
Chief Kandana is survived by his wife, Simeleni Dube, two children, and three grandchildren.
