Chiefs warned over tsikamutandas

CHIEFS who entertain witch-hunters, popularly known as tsikamutanda will be stripped of their right to preside over traditional courts, Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs president Chief Fortune Charumbira said yesterday.

He told traditional leaders attending a seminar on the Law and Procedure in local courts in Gweru that tsikamutandas have no right to rob poor villagers.

He lamented the deceitful ways used by witch-hunters to steal villagers' livestock and property under the guise of cleansing homes and individuals they accuse of practising witchcraft.

Chief Charumbira said the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act had repealed the Witchcraft Suppression Act making it a crime to indicate someone as a witch or wizard.

"We have an increase in cases of tsikamutandas across the country. It's worrying because villagers are losing their property and livestock. We have chiefs who are welcoming such crooks and oversee their subjects being swindled of their hard earned property and livestock," said Chief Charumbira.

"It's an offence for chiefs to entertain them and those found in the wrong risk having their court warrants and certificates withdrawn," he said.

Chief Charumbira said the traditional chiefs were empowered by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to be presiding officers in their villages and therefore should be custodians of the law.

He said the chiefs' court should not be used by tsikamutandas adding that the practice was a miscarriage of justice.

"Chiefs can't use their courts to determine matters to do with witchcraft. This unfair victimisation of villagers should stop henceforth. Therefore the Ministry of Justice will withdraw the licences of the chiefs found wanting. We need to do away with these crooks who are terrorising villagers," said Chief Charumbira.

Gweru provincial magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa urged chiefs to work closely with the magistrates' court and the police, especially when it comes to attaching villagers' property.

"In situations of resistance, please consult the police or the messenger of court. We need to work together for justice delivery. However, you must also note that you are not allowed to attach property which include tools of trade for the particular villager, clothing, cooking utensils including stoves and ploughs among other things," she said.