Abscess of vengeance

18 Dec, 2020 - 10:12 0 Views
Abscess of vengeance Magret Chitsanza (left) and Evelyn Chitsanza (right) console their niece, Anesu Matsikasimbi as she narrates the events of the fateful night.

The ManicaPost

Cletus Mushanawani

News Editor

NO matter how you slice it, the revenge impulse is deep in the fabric of the human heart.

When one is scorned, trampled upon, or disrespected; they feel a twinge of righteous anger.

Sometimes, rational thinking triumphs; other times, red-hot rage prevails.

In the worst cases, the desire to right perceived wrongs goes nuclear and proves to be fatal.

Last month the nation woke up to the least expected news when four minors from Chivhu paid for their parents’ domestic feud with their lives.

The four minors — Amanda (9), Yolander (5), Ayender (3) and Galender — allegedly had their throats slit by their furious mother, Emelda Mazarani (29), who went on to set the house on fire following a dispute with her husband.

Just when the nation was slowly coming to terms with such an unimaginable incident, the bad blood that is said to be between the Chitsanza and Chipinda families in Muchini Village, Buhera, has left three people dead.

The affected families are grieving and a teenager is behind bars.

A major player in the tragedy, Energy Chipinda (18) is now assisting police with investigations after the alleged cold blooded murder of Sekuru Elias Tafa Chitsanza (87), Gogo Elina Chitsanza nee Hlabati (80) and Gogo Milia Chinotimba (74) last Thursday.

Although different theories are being proffered on what triggered this barbaric act, relatives of the deceased and villagers have come to the conclusion that Chipinda was motivated by the desire to seek revenge.

They say Chipinda was a year old when his father died, but 17 years later, he stands accused of scripting one of the worst revenge acts in the country as he believed that Sekuru Chitsanza killed his father.

To many villagers, the death of Chipinda’s father was long forgotten, but he (Chipinda) always harboured thoughts of getting back at the alleged killer.

In his own admission in a video recorded before he was whisked away for further questioning by law enforcement agents last week, Chipinda said the desire to kill Sekuru Chitsanza has always been in his mind.

“My father died at the hands of Sekuru Chitsanza. I was made aware of this by fellow villagers from an early stage. Every time I would think of making him pay (Sekuru Chitsanza) for my father’s death. I knew that one day I would kill him as revenge for my father’s death.

“Although I feel sorry for killing the two women, I don’t regret killing Sekuru. On the night in question I even told a colleague that I wanted to deal with Sekuru Chitsanza, although I did not disclose how I was going to do that,” said Chipinda.

The Buhera murder case exposes the profound harm of village or street justice, with tit-for-tat attacks often cascading for years.

The late Chitsanzas’ daughter — Evelyn — said there has always been bad blood between the Chipinda and Chitsanza families.

“At one point Chipinda’s father stole our sheep and our father confronted him. My father found the Chipinda family feasting on the stolen meat. Energy’s father admitted that he had stolen the sheep and was asked to pay for it. Unfortunately this did not go down well with the Chipindas. At one time the Chipindas attacked our father, but the matter was withdrawn from the courts.

“Every time Energy passed by our homestead he would shout obscenities at our parents, but we never thought he would callously murder them like this,” said Evelyn.

Witchcraft allegations also emerged.

“Our father was the village head and his position saw him making many enemies. Some accused him of using sorcery to ascend to that position and would do anything to undermine his authority.

“When Energy’s father died, the rumour mill was awash with stories that our father had caused his death. But from what we later gathered, Energy’s father was bewitched by a man he had stolen from in South Africa. He came back into the country bedridden but people saw it fit to blame our father for his death,” said Evelyn.

A fellow villager, Phineas Chikomba also acknowledged the bad blood between the two families.

“A lot of allegations have been flying between these families. At one time, the Chitsanza homestead was barricaded by some villagers accusing Sekuru of using wizardry to stop the rains from falling in the area. Energy always claimed that Sekuru Chitsanza caused his father’s death.

“When we interrogated him after he had committed the murder on Thursday night, he said he had successfully revenged his father’s death. He was not remorseful about his actions and had the guts to demand sadza.

“He even said he had finally found peace in his heart,” said Chikomba.

A psychologist, Mr Blessed Chinyangare, is on record saying it takes a lot of mental resolve to murder someone.

“Anyone who commits murder will not be in their right state of mind. Even after the crime, one is left mentally unwell, hence the need for serious psychological rehabilitation, even after incarceration. This is the only way for the person to be stable again.

“Every human being has a conscience that tells them what to do and what not to. Likewise, every person knows right from wrong.

“The law may play its part, but more needs to be done. A jail term cannot do much, these people need psychological healing,” he said.

Share This:

Sponsored Links

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds