Man dies after incest allegations

A 50-year-old man from Parowa Village under Chief Marange reportedly died by suicide last week, hours after a violent confrontation with his son over allegations that he was sexually involved with his 20-year-old daughter.

Benny Chimhuya, popularly known as Beniza, was found hanging from a tree near the Musatya River.

At the time of his death, Chimhuya had a pending case before Chief Marange's community court concerning allegations of an incestuous relationship with his daughter.

His death has left his family and villagers grappling with unanswered questions surrounding the allegations and the circumstances that preceded his death.

Speaking during a visit to the family home on Tuesday, Chimhuya's sister, Mrs Dorcas Chimhuya-Mangwandi, said allegations that her brother had inappropriate relationships with some of his daughters had been circulating for years.

She said Chimhuya had 10 children — five boys and five girls — and was allegedly living with one of his daughters at Bezeley Bridge.

"It is alleged that he was sleeping with some of his daughters. He has been staying with one of them at Bezeley Bridge, as husband and wife, while the rest of his family stayed here, except for the wife, who had moved to Mutare after the pair moved out," she said.

According to Mrs Chimhuya-Mangwandi, tensions between Chimhuya and his son, Wish, escalated the night before his death.

"My brother hanged himself after a fight with his son, Wish. It was a fierce fight, with Wish assaulting him and demanding to know why he was abusing and sleeping with his sisters," she said.

Wish was reportedly arrested for allegedly assaulting his father, while Chimhuya was taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Mrs Chimhuya-Mangwandi said Chimhuya was discharged the following day, around the same time Wish was released from police custody.

That evening, Chimhuya reportedly took his own life.

The deceased's sister also alleged that her brother had accumulated valuable assets despite not being formally employed, fuelling suspicions among some relatives that the alleged relationships were connected to wealth-enhancing rituals.

She further alleged that one of the daughters became pregnant while living with her father, but the baby died shortly after birth.

Following the baby's death, the matter was reportedly brought before Chief Marange's court, where Chimhuya was summoned to answer allegations that he had been sexually involved with his daughter.

Chimhuya denied the allegations, according to his sister, maintaining that people were jealous of his close relationship with his daughter.

She said he claimed he was teaching the girl to drive and argued that there was no direct witness to the alleged sexual relationship.

The allegations were reportedly not limited to one daughter.

Mrs Chimhuya-Mangwandi said another daughter, who is now married, had also complained to relatives that her father was sexually abusing her.

However, she said family disputes and a protection order obtained by Chimhuya against his siblings made it difficult for relatives to intervene.

A villager, who requested anonymity, said clashes between Chimhuya and Wish over the allegations were reportedly common.

"Wish and his father were always fighting. They would come here at Gomorefu Business Centre fighting over the issue of incestuous relationships, but none made a report about the deceased bedding his daughters due to insufficient evidence," the villager said.

Chief Marange confirmed that the matter was still pending before his community court, although he said he had not yet received official information about Chimhuya's death.

He described the matter as makunakuna and said investigations were still underway when Chimhuya died.

"The matter is still pending before my court. It is a pity that he killed himself. We were still doing our investigations," Chief Marange said.

He said that had the allegations been proven, the traditional court would have imposed customary penalties before referring the matter to the police because incest is a criminal offence.

Chief Marange also said the family would face a customary penalty over the suicide as part of measures to cleanse the area.

Police had not issued an official statement on Chimhuya's death at the time of publication.