News / National
Chief Ndiweni's 'messengers' arrested
29 Jul 2017 at 05:12hrs | Views
THIRTEEN villagers from Ntabazinduna appeared in court yesterday for allegedly pulling down a fence and destroying a cattle kraal at the homestead of a local villager.
The complainant, Mr Fetti Mbele, was banished from the village after his wife Ms Nonkangelo Mpengesi was allegedly caught having sex with another villager.
Chief Ndiweni last week ruled that Mr Mbele and his "adulterous" wife should be banished from Sifelani village, saying ‘prostitution' will not be tolerated in his area.
The 13 villagers, Kimton Sibanda (72), Sasiso Nyoni (60), Vukani Dube (57), Webster Nyoni (age not given), Nkosilathi Nyoni (25), Margaret Mabhula (54), Simiso Dube (38), Nokuthula Maphosa (49), Lusiwe Mnkandla (26), Victor Madzivachando (46) and Sukoluhle Moyo (45) as well as Crispen Dube and Thabo Sokhela whose ages were not given appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Tinashe Tashaya, facing charges of malicious damage to property.
The suspects, all from Sifelani village, were remanded out of custody to July 31.
Prosecuting, Mr Realy Mudzimure said on July 26 this year at about 4PM, Mr Mbele and his wife arrived home from Bulawayo and found the accused persons standing outside their yard.
The court heard that when the two got into their homestead, Sibanda, Nyoni and Thembalenkosi Dube followed them.
"Sibanda told the complainants that they had been sent by Chief Ndiweni to come and destroy their fence and garden as well as the cattle kraal," said Mr Mudzimure.
After informing the couple of their intention, the three villagers went back and mobilised the other accused persons to destroy the fence and they complied.
The court heard that at about 5PM, Chief Ndiweni arrived at the complainants' homestead and ordered the accused persons to continue destroying the fence and kraal.
"After destroying the fence and kraal, Chief Ndiweni thanked the accused persons and threatened to destroy the complainants' homestead if they repaired the destroyed the property," said Mr Mudzimure.
The destroyed property is worth $300.
Meanwhile, Chief Ndiweni told the Chronicle that the area's MP Dr Obert Mpofu had a hand in recent protests against him. He said sending away the couple at the centre of the disturbances was in the interest of the Ntabazinduna community as they will not accept prostitution in the area.
However, Dr Mpofu, who is also the Minister of Macro-Economic Planning and Development, rubbished the Chief's claims saying ‘he does not get involved in village politics'.
"How do I come into this? He just told you what he thinks about me. If you look at the so-called demonstrators and thugs that are ransacking that village, they are actually wearing MDC regalia. I play national politics not village tribal politics," he said.
Dr Mpofu said he does not recognise Chief Ndiweni as the substantive chief of Ntabazinduna.
"I don't know this guy. I've nothing to do with him. Legally he is not a chief. He is just masquerading as a chief using opposition politics. He is clearly into opposition politics and this is his constitutional right. He should not blame us for his misdeeds. He has been out of the country for over 40 years and he came yesterday and wants to behave in a destructive and anti-people manner," he said.
"If he wants me to get involved, I will be involved. Once I get involved he will regret doing whatever he is doing. I don't do cheap politics like him".
The complainant, Mr Fetti Mbele, was banished from the village after his wife Ms Nonkangelo Mpengesi was allegedly caught having sex with another villager.
Chief Ndiweni last week ruled that Mr Mbele and his "adulterous" wife should be banished from Sifelani village, saying ‘prostitution' will not be tolerated in his area.
The 13 villagers, Kimton Sibanda (72), Sasiso Nyoni (60), Vukani Dube (57), Webster Nyoni (age not given), Nkosilathi Nyoni (25), Margaret Mabhula (54), Simiso Dube (38), Nokuthula Maphosa (49), Lusiwe Mnkandla (26), Victor Madzivachando (46) and Sukoluhle Moyo (45) as well as Crispen Dube and Thabo Sokhela whose ages were not given appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Tinashe Tashaya, facing charges of malicious damage to property.
The suspects, all from Sifelani village, were remanded out of custody to July 31.
Prosecuting, Mr Realy Mudzimure said on July 26 this year at about 4PM, Mr Mbele and his wife arrived home from Bulawayo and found the accused persons standing outside their yard.
The court heard that when the two got into their homestead, Sibanda, Nyoni and Thembalenkosi Dube followed them.
"Sibanda told the complainants that they had been sent by Chief Ndiweni to come and destroy their fence and garden as well as the cattle kraal," said Mr Mudzimure.
After informing the couple of their intention, the three villagers went back and mobilised the other accused persons to destroy the fence and they complied.
"After destroying the fence and kraal, Chief Ndiweni thanked the accused persons and threatened to destroy the complainants' homestead if they repaired the destroyed the property," said Mr Mudzimure.
The destroyed property is worth $300.
Meanwhile, Chief Ndiweni told the Chronicle that the area's MP Dr Obert Mpofu had a hand in recent protests against him. He said sending away the couple at the centre of the disturbances was in the interest of the Ntabazinduna community as they will not accept prostitution in the area.
However, Dr Mpofu, who is also the Minister of Macro-Economic Planning and Development, rubbished the Chief's claims saying ‘he does not get involved in village politics'.
"How do I come into this? He just told you what he thinks about me. If you look at the so-called demonstrators and thugs that are ransacking that village, they are actually wearing MDC regalia. I play national politics not village tribal politics," he said.
Dr Mpofu said he does not recognise Chief Ndiweni as the substantive chief of Ntabazinduna.
"I don't know this guy. I've nothing to do with him. Legally he is not a chief. He is just masquerading as a chief using opposition politics. He is clearly into opposition politics and this is his constitutional right. He should not blame us for his misdeeds. He has been out of the country for over 40 years and he came yesterday and wants to behave in a destructive and anti-people manner," he said.
"If he wants me to get involved, I will be involved. Once I get involved he will regret doing whatever he is doing. I don't do cheap politics like him".
Source - chronicle
