News / National
8 arrested over demo against Chiefs' dispute
10 Jan 2015 at 08:56hrs | Views
MORE than 200 villagers yesterday staged a demonstration at Masvingo Central Police Station against failure by Chiefs Musara and Chikwanda to resolve a boundary dispute.Eight of the demonstrators, including Ward 32 Councillor Trainos Munyenyi, were arrested after being fingered as ringleaders.
The demonstration was held at the police station as protesters accused the police of being sent by the chiefs to enforce unfair decisions emanating from the boundary war.
Davis Marapira, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for crops, mechanisation and irrigation, who is Masvingo North legislator under whose constituency the protesters come from, made spirited efforts to have them freed, but by late yesterday they were still detained.
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula would not confirm or deny the arrests.
The protesters were waving placards inscribed with different messages that denounced the two chiefs; one of which read: "Musara is corrupt."
Chief Chikwanda is accused of failing to stamp his authority as the paramount chief in the area.
On the other hand, Chief Musara is allegedly claiming to be a paramount chief and punishes villagers for failing to observe resting days.
The villagers alleged that there were now two resting days, each set aside by the rival chiefs, instead of one and this was disturbing their work, especially farming activities.
The protesters' spokesperson Innocent Simbanegavi said they were fed up with the two chiefs, especially Chief Musara who was alleged to be confiscating villagers' livestock for violating the chief's resting day.
"We're fed up with the two chiefs' boundary dispute. They are disturbing us to work in our fields. We're mainly resettled farmers living in Hwendedzo area, which is predominately a farming area," said Simbanegavi.
He called on the government to intervene and resolve the dispute before the farming season goes to waste.
"We call upon the government through Masvingo District Administrator James Mazvidza to address the problem before another farming season is wasted. We actually don't know who our chief is because both of them are giving us orders. The worst culprit being Chief Musara who when we demonstrate, he orders the police to arrest us," said Simbanegavi.
He said they staged a demonstration at the police station instead of the chiefs' homesteads because police officers were the ones sent to take people's livestock for "trivial" cases.
Simbanegavi said more than ten villagers lost beasts to Chief Musara for violating resting days among other "trivial" cases.
Marapira accused Chief Musara of abusing his powers.
"As we speak, some demonstrators, numbering about eight have been arrested and I'm going there to assist them. Chief Musara is abusing his powers. People are now observing two resting days, Wednesday and Thursday, leaving their fields unattended. They're no longer productive and that should be rectified as a matter of urgency. I'm not happy when my constituency is treated badly," said Marapira.
Chief Musara said the issue was not political and there was no reason for Marapira's involvement.
He said he lives by the book and his decisions were above board.
"Anyone who isn't happy with my judgment is free to approach the courts for the purposes of appeal. I was appointed by the President Robert Mugabe according to the law of the country and whatever I do is above board," said Chief Musara.
"I do my things following the Customary Law as enshrined in the Constitution of the country. I live by the book and even consult the judiciary on matters of concern. I think Marapira really needs to be informed and I accept him to assist villagers in his constituency in this regard. He should lecture them on who is their chief in place of putting blame on me."
On the issue of the boundary, he said the boundaries are clear and those that fall under the Musara chieftainship should abide by his laws that are in tandem with the Constitution.
"My area was gazetted and I don't understand when people say they don't know where they belong. May be it's the duty of local government through District Administrator James Mazvidza to shed more light on that. The boundary dispute between me and Chief Chikwanda was resolved long back and the verdict was given by the High Court. Those who don't want to recognise my chieftainship are in contempt of court," added Chief Musara.
Chief Chikwanda could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
The demonstration was held at the police station as protesters accused the police of being sent by the chiefs to enforce unfair decisions emanating from the boundary war.
Davis Marapira, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for crops, mechanisation and irrigation, who is Masvingo North legislator under whose constituency the protesters come from, made spirited efforts to have them freed, but by late yesterday they were still detained.
Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula would not confirm or deny the arrests.
The protesters were waving placards inscribed with different messages that denounced the two chiefs; one of which read: "Musara is corrupt."
Chief Chikwanda is accused of failing to stamp his authority as the paramount chief in the area.
On the other hand, Chief Musara is allegedly claiming to be a paramount chief and punishes villagers for failing to observe resting days.
The villagers alleged that there were now two resting days, each set aside by the rival chiefs, instead of one and this was disturbing their work, especially farming activities.
The protesters' spokesperson Innocent Simbanegavi said they were fed up with the two chiefs, especially Chief Musara who was alleged to be confiscating villagers' livestock for violating the chief's resting day.
"We're fed up with the two chiefs' boundary dispute. They are disturbing us to work in our fields. We're mainly resettled farmers living in Hwendedzo area, which is predominately a farming area," said Simbanegavi.
He called on the government to intervene and resolve the dispute before the farming season goes to waste.
"We call upon the government through Masvingo District Administrator James Mazvidza to address the problem before another farming season is wasted. We actually don't know who our chief is because both of them are giving us orders. The worst culprit being Chief Musara who when we demonstrate, he orders the police to arrest us," said Simbanegavi.
He said they staged a demonstration at the police station instead of the chiefs' homesteads because police officers were the ones sent to take people's livestock for "trivial" cases.
Simbanegavi said more than ten villagers lost beasts to Chief Musara for violating resting days among other "trivial" cases.
Marapira accused Chief Musara of abusing his powers.
"As we speak, some demonstrators, numbering about eight have been arrested and I'm going there to assist them. Chief Musara is abusing his powers. People are now observing two resting days, Wednesday and Thursday, leaving their fields unattended. They're no longer productive and that should be rectified as a matter of urgency. I'm not happy when my constituency is treated badly," said Marapira.
Chief Musara said the issue was not political and there was no reason for Marapira's involvement.
He said he lives by the book and his decisions were above board.
"Anyone who isn't happy with my judgment is free to approach the courts for the purposes of appeal. I was appointed by the President Robert Mugabe according to the law of the country and whatever I do is above board," said Chief Musara.
"I do my things following the Customary Law as enshrined in the Constitution of the country. I live by the book and even consult the judiciary on matters of concern. I think Marapira really needs to be informed and I accept him to assist villagers in his constituency in this regard. He should lecture them on who is their chief in place of putting blame on me."
On the issue of the boundary, he said the boundaries are clear and those that fall under the Musara chieftainship should abide by his laws that are in tandem with the Constitution.
"My area was gazetted and I don't understand when people say they don't know where they belong. May be it's the duty of local government through District Administrator James Mazvidza to shed more light on that. The boundary dispute between me and Chief Chikwanda was resolved long back and the verdict was given by the High Court. Those who don't want to recognise my chieftainship are in contempt of court," added Chief Musara.
Chief Chikwanda could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
Source - chronicle
