The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
A Chimanimani woman was recently fined two goats after storming a funeral and threatening to give mourners a thorough hiding.
Taurai Dhliwayo of Chibvuma Village under Chief Saurombe recently appeared before Acting Chief Saurombe after being dragged to the court by the recently widowed Charity Mwatenga.
Mwatenga accused Dhliwayo of threatening her and other mourners with a thorough bashing if they failed to clear the money owed to her.
Dhliwayo, according to witnesses, is a well-known fighter who always wins duels, and her threats were not taken lightly by the mourners.
Mwatenga said the incident happened at the funeral of her husband who was a headmaster at Mhakwe High School.
The Mwatengas owed Dhliwayo US$60 after they had employed Dhliwayo as a farm labourer.
“We had already paid her US$100 from the US$160 she had charged us. However, my husband suddenly died. When she heard that my husband had died, Dhliwayo stormed the funeral and demanded the outstanding balance, much to the shock of the mourners.
“She threatened to harm someone unless the outstanding money was paid. She also said death will continue visiting the family until the debt was cleared,” said Mwatenga.
The Mwatengas had to run around to raise the outstanding money.
ln her defence, Dhliwayo said: “I didn’t know that these people would fabricate all these lies against me. They announced at the funeral that whoever was owed by the deceased should stand up and state what they were owed. I just did that and never threatened anyone. I do not know where all these witnesses are coming from. The truth of the matter is that I am being framed because they want my goats.”
In an interview with The Weekender, Dhliwayo claimed that it was not her first time to be framed in the village and to be dragged to the chief’s court.
“At one time they lied that I had assaulted my mother-in-law and I was fined. They also accused me of assaulting my husband. Even if you ask him, he will tell you that I am a loving and caring wife. People envy our well looked after goats and they want to get hold of them through making false allegations against me. I am not a violent person like everyone is being made to believe,” she said.
She, however, did not deny that she is a well-known fighter in the area and claimed that if provoked, she strikes back.
Since Mwatenga had indicated that she did not want to be appeased for the disruption of her late husband’s funeral, Acting Chief Saurombe ordered Dhliwayo to pay one goat to Village head Chibvuma’s court and the other to his court as they had both dealt with the matter.
