Masvingo Chief Assaulted By Seven Villagers During A Funeral
Chief Murinye, originally Ephias Munodawafa, informed Masvingo Magistrate Ivy Jawona that he was assaulted by seven villagers during a funeral in June last year over boundary disputes with other chiefs.
He stated in court that the attack was planned, alleging that the family of the deceased deliberately chose a forbidden burial spot to provoke him.
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“Your worship, my attack was premeditated because the father of the deceased knows that the place was of cultural value in our area before he illegally settled there,” he asserted. “I strongly believe that the attack against me was orchestrated because the discord began when I arrived at the funeral.
As you may know, I am related to Chief Shumba and Chief Mugabe, and we are embroiled in boundary disputes. This is the primary cause of my attack, not the issue of the burial site.”
Magistrate Jawona adjourned the proceedings to February 22, 2024, for further trial.
The accused villagers—Jennifer Shumba Mhande (70), Amen Munyimo (46), Moses Mugabe (42), Charles Ngoma (48), Gilbert Musiiwa (36), Muza Muza (46), and Christopher Maromo (52)—from Boroma Resettlement area in Masvingo Rural, face charges of public violence and assault.
The incident occurred on June 28, 2023, during the burial of Jairos Zindoga in Village 33B under Chief Murinye’s jurisdiction. Chief Murinye intervened when he learned that Zingdoga was to be buried at an unauthorized location on his homestead. He ordered the burial to cease, citing the site’s cultural significance, and suggested a community cemetery instead. Allegedly, the seven villagers assaulted him for halting the burial rites.
The accused denied assaulting the chief, claiming he framed them due to their affiliation with the Mugabe chieftainship family, with whom Chief Murinye has boundary disputes.
Several villagers, including Wakemore Gavhure, were previously convicted of the same charge.
Tichaona Chakavarika prosecuted the case.
