Bereaved family demands 40 beasts before burial

A family from Garawaziwa Village in Buhera last week demanded 40 herd of cattle from a teen's family who murdered their relative in cold blood, before they could bury him, as compensation for his death.

Lawrence Dhanda (19) who was believed to be high on drugs, battered Jeffrey Chibgwe (57) to death after ordering the deceased to go home. Chibgwe  was coming from a drinking hole and had sat down to rest when he met his death.

He was buried on Saturday, six days after his death, after Dhanda's family successfully negotiated to pay a less number of cattle and other goods.

The family was then ordered to pay 20 cattle, with an option of five goats equivalent to a beast. On Saturday they brought the cattle, a scotch cart, an ox-drawn plough and an undisclosed amount of money

"This is just an agreement between us, the living – the deceased will come back to haunt the accused in his own way. It is only that we are governed by the law, otherwise we could have revenged his death," said Shepherd Mabota, the young brother to the Chibgwes.

When The Zimbabwe Mail arrived at the village, police from Murambinda were clearing the cattle, brought as part of the compensation.

"My brother died a painful death at the hands of someone and these are the cattle to compensate our loss. They also brought a plough and scotch cart. We agreed on 25 cattle but today they brought only 20. We will be waiting for the remaining five," said Mabota.

Meanwhile, speakers at the funeral bemoaned how the youths in the area were abusing marijuana, which had turned them into delinquents.

Ward 13 councillor Jacob Jagada said his area had witnessed an upsurge in crime due to the use of drugs.

"How can a student behave like this? The youths in this area are smoking marijuana and if nothing is done, we will have more casualties," said Jagada.

Buhera North member of parliament William Mutomba, who also attended the funeral service, said he was aware of abuse of marijuana and would engage the police to seriously deal with the matter.

"I am aware that there are marijuana farmers in this area. I also heard that women in this area are bringing the drug from Mutare to sell to the youth. The death of Chibgwe is a result of these drugs and I urge parents to stop selling these drugs as they are affecting our children," said Mutomba.