A 72-year-old  traditional chief from Bikita West in neighboring Zimbabwe, Chief Mupakwa, has set social media ablaze after photos of him caressing a much-younger girlfriend inside his Government-issued vehicle were leaked on social media.

The steamy photos which were leaked from the Chief’s mobile phone, have stirred controversy with many Zimbabweans blasting the elderly man of behaving like a wayward teenager.

In one of the photos, the woman is touching the chief’s privates while starring directly into the camera. In two other photos, the Chief is performing a sexual act on the woman.

In one of those photo the two are looking directly at the camera, indicating that perhaps the photos were taken with their knowledge and consent.

Many commented that Chief Mupakwa was failing to set exemplary behaviour and might find himself in trouble with the Chief’s Council.  Others wondered how he would run traditional courts and rebuke wayward members of his community if he was setting such a low standard.

But Chief Mupakwa might not be the only one to be caught in an embarrassing incident recently.

His fellow traditional leader, Zhombe’s chief Gwesela embarrassed himself by posting a pornographic video on his WhatsApp status last year.

Chief Weight Gwesela then blamed his phone for the mistake. The chief posted a video of people having sexual intercourse and subsquently sent an apology.

The apology read, “I am sorry for those who viewed my status my phone has got a problem,” he said.

Traditional leaders in Zimbabwe undertake important responsibilities especially in rural areas where 67 per cent of the population resides. Traditional leaders deliver various government responsibilities in some parts of Zimbabwe where the State has no or a limited presence.