Chief assaults a man, 75, during a beer drinking spree

CHIEF Mpini of Bulilima District allegedly assaulted a 75-year-old man during a beer drinking spree after accusing the old man of disrespecting him.

Chief Mpini, 24, allegedly poured beer on Dina Moyo who is from Ndiweni area before he held him by the collar.

The two men exchanged harsh words in full view of villagers who fruitlessly tried to calm them down.

A senior village head from the area, Bikile Dube, confirmed the incident which occurred recently at Ndiweni Business Centre.

He said police had to intervene.

Moyo said on the day of the incident, Chief Mpini attacked him after he refused to acknowledge his greeting.

''Chief Mpini found me sitting outside the bottle store with one of his aides. Mpini was very drunk and he greeted me by my first name, disregarding my advanced age.

"I properly told him not to greet me by my first name as I'm old enough to be his grandfather. I told him that I respect him as I always address him by his surname,'' said Moyo.

He said to his surprise, the rowdy Chief Mpini poured some beer on him.

Moyo said the chief then held him by the collar and forced him to his feet.

He said Chief Mpini then accused him of being disrespectful towards him as a traditional leader.

"Chief Mpini was holding a beer bottle and he poured all the contents on me. I tried to grab the bottle from him and he held me by the collar. He did this in the presence of villagers who were at the business centre,'' said Moyo.

He said police detectives who were within the area came to his rescue before the chief could assault him further.

Moyo said the matter was being handled by the police.

"I was at the Plumtree Police Station yesterday in connection with the matter. The police told me that I would be summoned in due course. I've been making endless trips from the village to Plumtree and it's costing me a lot of money. The chief is now alleging that I provoked him first before he attacked me,'' said Moyo.

Village head Dube said people were now fed up of the young chief's violent tendencies which he frequently displayed in public.

"The chief is a heavy drinker and this isn't the first time that he has displayed such rowdy behaviour after drinking.

"His behaviour isn't acceptable for someone who is a traditional leader. In some cases he assaults people even when he is sober," said Dube.

Last year, Chief Mpini assaulted an Orap worker at Ndiweni Business Centre after he refused to offer him a lift in a company car.

The chief ordered the driver, who was going to Bulilima from Plumtree on work errands, to turn back and take him to his aunt's place in Plumtree town.

The man pointed out that he was carrying out work duties and the chief struck him with an empty beer bottle.

Chief Mpini, who admitted to having an altercation with the old man during a drinking binge, said Moyo was the one who attacked him.

"I didn't provoke the old man but instead it was him who attacked me. I didn't lay a hand on him. At one point I thought of beating him up but I restrained myself.

"I was exiting the beer hall and greeted him. He started insulting me out of the blue. His actions were a sign of his disrespect for me,'' said Chief Mpini.

He said people were used to his rowdy behaviour of the past which he had since abandoned.

The chief said it was expected of the old man to respect him as he was the chief.