The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
CHIEF Makoni — born Cogan Gwasira — is in the eye of a storm after seizing two oxen valued at US$2 000 from a Nyazura family as penalty for allegedly possessing 10 cords of firewood.
In his judgement in the matter involving Mrs Judith Mwaramba who had been brought before his court on October 16 for cutting down trees, Chief Makoni had ordered the woman to pay a beast or US$250 as fine for the offence.
The woman was given up to the end of November to settle the fine.
However, it is alleged that on November 28, the chief’s aides, led by one Obadiah Giya, pounced on Mrs Mwaramba’s Plot Number 1, Tsungwezi Source, Nyazura, and drove away two oxen that were ploughing her field.
Tsungwezi Source is an A1 resettlement scheme, and the Constitution, the Rural District Councils Act, as well as the Traditional Leaders Act prohibits chiefs from presiding over these areas.
Instead, committees of seven preside over such areas.
“On October 16, I was convicted by Chief Makoni’s court and was ordered to pay a cow or US$250 plus a court fee of US$60. The fine was payable at the end of November.
“As I was in the process of raising it, they descended on my plot and seized two cross-breed oxen that were tilling the field.
“The four aides went on to confiscate my strobes and rope, which were not cited in the judgement.
“They tried to seize my plough and four goats but were stopped by my neighbours. The oxen do not even belong to us,” said Mrs Mwaramba.
When contacted for a comment, Chief Makoni professed ignorance over the matter.
“If you want to ask about cases I preside over, come to my court on Friday. I do not keep finer details of cases off hand,” said Chief Makoni.
However in similar cases, the Forestry Commission, which enforces fines gazetted by Government, resorts to Level Eight fines ($14 000) and confiscation of the firewood.
The $14 000 is payable within seven working days, failure of which the offender will be prosecuted.
A traditional leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said although the Traditional Leaders’ Act regards them as custodians of the natural resources within their areas of jurisdiction, the fines should be correctional, rather than punitive.
“You cannot impose such a penalty on a subject. This is the extortionate behaviour that brings the chief’s office into disrepute,” said the traditionalist.
This is not the first time that Chief Makoni has courted controversy.
Sometime between 2016 and 2017, the police gave him 13 counts of extortion after he had confiscated villagers’ cattle, goats, sheep, chickens and fertilisers, among other valuables.
Where his judgement cited a cow for example, his aides would take 10 goats.
