Police dragged into messy Gwasira estate feud

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has been drawn into a bitter family feud over the estate of the late retired Senior Assistant Commissioner Shepherd Gwasira, with the deceased's children accusing the estate's executor of using police officers to intimidate them.

The dispute took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when officers from Marimba Police Station, including Inspector Everjoyce Samuriwo, reportedly arrested Munyaradzi Gwasira, one of the late commissioner's sons, at his home around 5am.

Family members said Munyaradzi went missing for several hours following his arrest, prompting fears for his safety.

His brother, Kudzi Gwasira, told NewsDay that the family only managed to confirm Munyaradzi's detention at Marimba Police Station at around 9am.

"We are surprised that Munyaradzi was picked up at his home by Marimba police officers around five in the morning, and his wife battled to locate him," said a distressed family member.
"We tried to ensure he could access his lawyers, but all efforts were in vain."

Inspector Samuriwo later confirmed that Munyaradzi was being held under the Victim Friendly Unit (VFU) at the station.

The family's lawyer, Barbara Kudzayi Mupawaenda of Musara, Mupawaenda and Mawere Legal Practitioners, initially said she was unaware of her client's whereabouts when contacted for comment.

The Gwasira family believes Munyaradzi's arrest is linked to an ongoing dispute with the estate's executor, their uncle Zambe Nyika, whom they accuse of mismanaging the estate and abusing his authority.

They have since lodged a formal complaint with the Master of the High Court, seeking Nyika's removal.

"We are unhappy with how the police are handling the matter," a family source said.
"Nyika is now using the police to intimidate us and delay proceedings while he benefits financially from the estate."

The late Commissioner Gwasira, who died on August 29, 2020, left behind four wives and seven children, as well as several properties that form part of the contested estate.

The family alleges that Nyika has failed to account for rental income from the properties and has diverted estate funds for personal gain.

"As a family, we are not happy with the way the police are handling this case," another family member said.
"We have officially requested the removal of Zambe Nyika as executor due to lack of transparency and abuse of resources."

Last week, NewsDay's sister paper, the Zimbabwe Independent, reported that the feud has deeply divided the Gwasira family, with the late officer's children accusing Nyika of concealing financial information and failing to distribute assets equitably.

Court documents obtained by the publication show that Sheila Gwasira (now deceased), Kudzai Leonard Gwasira, and Munyaradzi Walter Gwasira petitioned the Master of the High Court to remove Nyika as executor dative of the estate.

The matter, registered under DR1429/20: Estate Late Gwasira Shepherd, was heard before the Master, who on September 18, 2024, confirmed that an inquiry had been convened "to satisfy the Master that Zambe Nyika, the executor dative in the estate, was not fit and proper to continue in office as executor."

The family maintains that they will continue to pursue justice to ensure a fair and transparent distribution of their late father's estate.