Makoni boundaries dispute turns bloody

03 Feb, 2023 - 00:02 0 Views
Makoni boundaries dispute turns bloody Chief Makoni

The ManicaPost

 

Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent

THE fight over traditional boundaries in Makoni District has turned bloody following recent violent skirmishes between Chief Makoni and Chief Chiduku’s subjects.

Last week on Friday, a fierce fight erupted between Chief Makoni’s people and those from Chief Chiduku in Nyazura at a function where the latter, Mr Mbaimbai Revayi, was installing headmen and village heads in a resettlement area that was previously under Chief Makoni.

The new boundaries gazetted reduced Chief Makoni’s area from being the largest to be the smallest in the district.

A team from Chief Makoni’s area allegedly stormed the installation gathering armed with various weapons to disrupt the proceedings.

They, however, met their match when they were allegedly thoroughly thumped by an equally prepared team from Chief Chiduku.

Three people from Chief Makoni’s area —Austin Magondo, Philip Magondo and Patrick Nyatsuro were arrested after the incident.

The Magondo brothers had to appear in court last week on Saturday for bail consideration while hospitalised at Rusape General Hospital.

By the time of going to print, Austin was still hospitalised.

The three who are represented by Mr Munyaradzi Manyengavana of Manyengavana Law Chambers and Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates were granted $30 000 bail on Monday by Rusape magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, with reporting conditions.

The matter was adjourned to February 13.

Appearing for the State, Mr Marlon Makamba said some weapons allegedly used in the commission of crime were recovered.

“On January 27, and at West Valley in Nyazura, Austin Magondo, Philip Magondo, Patrick Nyatsuro and others who are still at large approached a public meeting that was being held by Mr Revayi Mbaimbai, who is Chief Chiduku, aboard a Tata truck which was being driven by Nyatsuro.

“They disrupted the meeting by assaulting the people who were in attendance using iron bars, machetes, spear and bricks.

“The iron bars and a spear that were used in the violence were recovered and are being held as an exhibit. The motor vehicle which was used to ferry the accused persons to the scene of crime was also recovered. There are independent witnesses who made citizen’s arrests,” said Mr Makamba.

The Manica Post understands that the Makoni people late last year convened a high level clan meeting attended by senior family figures, where they deliberated on how to respond to the issue of the gazetted boundaries.

Sources privy to the details of the closed door meeting said the family agreed to challenge the new boundaries in court and to engage Government over the issue.

The matter will be heard in the first quarter of this year after Chief Makoni last year requested to change his lawyers, resulting in the matter being struck off the roll.

Chief Makoni is represented by Advocate Lewis Uriri, while chiefs Chipunza, Tandi, Chikore and Chiduku are represented by Professor Lovemore Madhuku.

The Attorney General is representing the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

 

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