Still Crying for Justice

Chikomo, of Madzivanyika village under Chief Phineas Makore’s area, went to the Gutu magistrate’s court in October 2005 (case number CR 19/08/05), but she lost her case after resident magistrate Walter Chikwanha allegedly refused to preside over the case as he feared to be labeled politically incorrect’ if he tried cases involving chiefs, who form the backbone of Zanu Pf and are deemed untouchables. 

Yet four years after being held hostage while being handcuffed onto a tree at a traditional court to hear a lobola dispute, Febby, aged 39, says she will not rest until justice is delivered at her doorstep.  

Justice delayed is justice denied. This is now four years, but the chief is walking Scot free, after committing a crime, says Febby, her eyes glittering with tears gathering up.

I was handcuffed to a tree branch from 11 am up to around three in the afternoon on 17 February 2005, at the chief’s homestead, where a kangaroo court was being held. 

Matters arising at the court included my son, Adias, who was having an affair with a daughter of one of the chief’s aides. This was why the matter was treated unfairly and harshly as the chief had a bias. 

So I was fined a beast for my son’s sins’, and when I protested verbally, two of Makore’s aides, Rinos Maganga and Timothy Murairwa, were ordered to tie me up, leaving me hanging at a tree branch, Febby miffed.

She added that she had to hold onto the tree branch to avoid the handcuffs from tightening, while her body was suspended in the air. 

I will never forget the day, neither will I forgive the chief (Makore) for such an inhumane treatment.

Chikomo sustained serious injuries that saw her going to Gutu Mission Hospital, the district’s largest health referral centre, where she was told to see a doctor.

Part of her medical report, dated March 2005, reads:

Patient physically assaulted by being tied onto a tree. Now she has chest pains radiating to the right thumb, neck pains. Patient needs to see the doctor.

However, Chikomo, a peasant farmer, could not afford the fees to see a private doctor as Gutu Mission Hospital had no doctor. Even up to now, she cannot meet the legal expenses if she needs to hire a lawyer.

I have to appeal to The Masvingo Magistrates so that the case may be tried fairly, with the chief also being treated as another citizen like me. Right now, the only beast that was my source of draught power was given away as compensation for my son’s affair with the chief’s aide. I need to be refunded, as well as the chief to pay me for the humiliation that I suffered in front of all the villagers and my son, added Chikomo.

Chikomo also added onto her list of demands, the privilege to get the food handouts as she alleged that the Chief struck her off the list as punishment for making a police report and going to court.

 

My name does not appear on the list of people who get maize meal from the GMB. Neither am I allowed to participate in food-for-work programmes, she said.Chief Makore has, up to now, not been charged for kidnapping. Only his two aides, Maganga and Murairwa were dragged to the courts where they were fined and cautioned’.

Walter Chikwanha, the Gutu resident magistrate, refused to comment on the matter, saying that he was on study leave.

I am on leave and I cannot comment on the issue as I am out of office, I need to check records first, he said.

Chief Makore could neither deny nor confirm the allegations.

Go and talk to the person who told you, and leave me alone, he said, before abruptly hanging his phone.

 Time and again chiefs have been above the law as they also interfere in the course of justice. At Masvingo Rural police station, chiefs’ council president Fortune Charumbira was said to have ordered the release of suspects arrested by the police last year. A police officer remarked that the chief was acting more like the Officer in Charge at the station.