Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A DARING Makoni villager has parceled out land in a graveyard to his uncle, infuriating traditional leaders and fellow villagers over his abhorrent conduct.
Munyaradzi Madziwa was last week dragged to Chief Makoni’s community court by Village-head Mutasa for selling land in the graveyard to Roberto Bereto, who is his uncle.
He was also accused of politicising the matter, and using politics to brush aside traditional leaders’ attempts to evict Bereto.
Bereto absconded the hearing.
Village-head Mutasa also produced a letter from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, barring settlement in the graveyard.
“Madziwa sold the land to Bereto, but this land is in the village’s graveyard. I told them no one is allowed to settle there, but they have been resisting. They claim the area has no traditional leadership, so they can do as they please.
“The Committee of Seven chairman, who allocated Madziwa the land, was also informed that the area is a graveyard and no one can settle there.
“This is where all villagers, including Madziwa, will be buried. There is also a letter from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, which bars settlement at the site. Bereto has constructed a two-roomed cottage in the graveyard. When I handed Madziwa the letter from the ministry, he took it to the village chairman, who scolded me,” said Village-head Mutasa.
Madziwa admitted allocating land in the graveyard to Bereto, claiming he was not the only one allocated land at the site.
“What the village head is saying is not true. I was allocated the land in question by the Committee of Seven, and it was also allocated to other people.
“I briefly settled there before inviting my son to occupy it. My son said the 50mx50m plot was too small for him, and advised me to give it to our uncle, who has nowhere to stay.
“I gave the land in question to my uncle, and most of the plots there are 50mx50m. Makoni Rural District Council and Committee of Seven allocated most of the stands. I do not have a permit to settle there yet,” said Madziwa.
Headman Chikono told the court that Madziwa was going against the village’s wishes, and had desperately tried to politicise the matter to justify occupying the graveyard.
“The issue was resolved long ago when the late Headman Chikono ordered that no one should settle or construct a house there, but Madziwa continued being stubborn.
“Villagers once destroyed some structures there, and Madziwa reported them to the police, who advised him to solve the issue through existing traditional structures. Madziwa defied this, and opted to politicise the matter. We continued to engage Madziwa to remove Bereto from the graveyard and allocate him land in his plot.
“Whenever we engage him, he appears understanding, but rushes to the village chairman, who emboldens him to defy the village head. I summoned him to my court, and he agreed to remove Bereto, but he is still to comply.
“The whole village is upset with Madziwa,” said Headman Chikono.
Chief Makoni made it clear that settling in a graveyard is strictly taboo.
To drive this point home, he instructed his messengers to demolish Bereto’s two-roomed cottage.
Madziwa, who sold the land to Bereto was fined four goats for disrespecting the traditional leadership and selling land meant for a graveyard.
“People must respect the traditional leadership. On Monday, the Messenger of Court will demolish all the structures in the graveyard. “We cannot have people who do not want to toe the line. Madziwa is fined four goats for selling the land and disrespecting the traditional leadership,” ruled the court.
