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Chief Negomo fines Prime Minister Tsvangirai
10 Dec 2011 at 17:00hrs | Views
Chief Negomo passes judgment on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s in-laws in Chiweshe yesterday. Mr Tsvangirai and his in-laws, the Karimatsengas, were charged with conducting marriage rituals in November, which is regarded as sacred in Shona tradition
A traditional court sitting in Chiweshe communal lands, Mashonaland Central, on Saturday convicted and fined Prime Minister Tsvangirai two beasts and two sheep for disregarding a cultural taboo after he paid the bride price (lobola) in the culturally forbidden month of November.
Sitting with his aides and assessors at a packed courtroom at Gweshe Business Centre, Chief Negomo also fined PM Tsvangirai's in-laws, with whom he was jointly charged.
Reading out the charge, the chief's aide accused PM Tsvangirai of breaking a cultural tradition that forbids marriage and any traditional ceremonies in November.
"Uri kushevedzwa kudare kuti uzotsanangura kuti sei wakaroora mumwedzi waMbudzi. Chimina padunhu, makaita chipini, mashura (makunakuna). (You are hereby summoned to my court to explain why you broke a cultural taboo by paying lobola in the month of November. This is unheard of.)"
PM Tsvangirai paid lobola on November 21 for his wife, Ms Locadia Tembo Karimatsenga, whose family resides in Kanhukamwe village under Chief Negomo's jurisdiction.
While Mr Tsvangirai did not attend, the Karimatsengas, with whom he was jointly charged, were in attendance and were represented by Locadia's uncles Messrs Isaiah Karimatsenga, Abraham Karimatsenga and brother Positive Karimatsenga.
The Karimatsengas were also fined two beasts, two sheep, 10 metres of cotton cloth and some traditional snuff in order to appease the Negomo clan spirits.
Positive told the court that he questioned the dates when their son-in-law initially approached them with the intention to pay the bride price.
"I consulted the elders and they all agreed that since it was 21 November, the traditional month had started on October 15 and ended on November 15. We also consulted Mbuya Nehanda's spirit medium in
Mazowe and she advised us all was fine," said Positive.
But Chief Negomo quickly corrected him saying there was no authentic Nehanda spirit medium and that they should have consulted his court before accepting the lobola.
Chief Negomo said the charge and fine had nothing to do with politics but were an assertion of traditional leadership and a way of ensuring that culture is followed.
"Chiefs are the custodians of the treasures of our culture and cannot fold their hands when citizens, particularly those who occupy the highest office, perform activities that seriously disturb the integrity and dignity of chiefs and subjects," said Chief Negomo.
He said there was no reason for the Karimatsengas to rush and perform the illicit ceremony, which could have been done in December.
Before the court session, the chief explained to his subjects how rest days (chisi) were defined in the Negomo chieftainship saying chisi started at midday on Thursday but end on Fridays at 5pm.
He also explained that the month of November traditionally starts on October 21 and ends on November 21 when the modern calendar dates are used.
Sitting with his aides and assessors at a packed courtroom at Gweshe Business Centre, Chief Negomo also fined PM Tsvangirai's in-laws, with whom he was jointly charged.
Reading out the charge, the chief's aide accused PM Tsvangirai of breaking a cultural tradition that forbids marriage and any traditional ceremonies in November.
"Uri kushevedzwa kudare kuti uzotsanangura kuti sei wakaroora mumwedzi waMbudzi. Chimina padunhu, makaita chipini, mashura (makunakuna). (You are hereby summoned to my court to explain why you broke a cultural taboo by paying lobola in the month of November. This is unheard of.)"
PM Tsvangirai paid lobola on November 21 for his wife, Ms Locadia Tembo Karimatsenga, whose family resides in Kanhukamwe village under Chief Negomo's jurisdiction.
While Mr Tsvangirai did not attend, the Karimatsengas, with whom he was jointly charged, were in attendance and were represented by Locadia's uncles Messrs Isaiah Karimatsenga, Abraham Karimatsenga and brother Positive Karimatsenga.
The Karimatsengas were also fined two beasts, two sheep, 10 metres of cotton cloth and some traditional snuff in order to appease the Negomo clan spirits.
Positive told the court that he questioned the dates when their son-in-law initially approached them with the intention to pay the bride price.
"I consulted the elders and they all agreed that since it was 21 November, the traditional month had started on October 15 and ended on November 15. We also consulted Mbuya Nehanda's spirit medium in
Mazowe and she advised us all was fine," said Positive.
But Chief Negomo quickly corrected him saying there was no authentic Nehanda spirit medium and that they should have consulted his court before accepting the lobola.
Chief Negomo said the charge and fine had nothing to do with politics but were an assertion of traditional leadership and a way of ensuring that culture is followed.
"Chiefs are the custodians of the treasures of our culture and cannot fold their hands when citizens, particularly those who occupy the highest office, perform activities that seriously disturb the integrity and dignity of chiefs and subjects," said Chief Negomo.
He said there was no reason for the Karimatsengas to rush and perform the illicit ceremony, which could have been done in December.
Before the court session, the chief explained to his subjects how rest days (chisi) were defined in the Negomo chieftainship saying chisi started at midday on Thursday but end on Fridays at 5pm.
He also explained that the month of November traditionally starts on October 21 and ends on November 21 when the modern calendar dates are used.
Source - Sunday Mail
