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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A Chimanimani man who killed his nephew in an accident 62 years ago stands accused of being reluctant to appease the avenging spirit.
The Tambarare and Nemakonde families have labelled Fungai Nemakonde a heartless man who does not care about how the late Chidhinha Nemakonde’s avenging spirit has been tormenting them, demanding appeasement.
What baffles the families is that the avenging spirit’s demands are much less than what is normally demanded in such circumstances, and yet Fungai remains adamant.
Fungai’s brother, Noah Kenneth Tambarare, made an application at Acting Chief Saurombe’s court recently.
Noah said for the past 62 years, they expected Fungai to apologise to his brother’s family, but has not done so.
“Our brother, who was Chidhinha’s father, died without receiving an apology from Fungai. He still insists that he did not cause Chidhinha’s death.
“Chidhinha died in 1961 and started demanding compensation in 1975. However, since then, Fungai has done nothing. He does not care despite the fact that everyone knows that he was the one driving the tractor that crashed Chidhinha. He says that he was exonerated of murder at the criminal court, and therefore he is not liable to appease Chidhinha’s spirit,” he said.
As a result, the avenging spirit is now manifesting on Fungai’s niece, Anna Tambarare, accusing Fungai of causing Chidhinha’s death.
For years, the spirit has been demanding two cattle and US$700 as appeasement.
The spirit manifested on Anna during a previous court session at Acting Chief Mutambara’s court: “You are very unapologetic. It has been 62 years and you still have not approached my immediate family to apologise.
“You were not even at my funeral, even though you are one of my closest uncles. I charged you two cattle because you are part of the family, but you continue insulting me by not paying up. If you do not appease me, I will ask for seven cattle and more money,” said the spirit.
Tambarare said Fungai did not contribute anything towards the funeral as is the norm.
“The deceased claims that our family never attended his funeral.
“I was not yet born as this happened in 1961. I was later informed by other relatives that my elder brother, Fungai, killed our uncle Chidhinha in an accident a long time ago,” said Tambarare. He also said Chidhinha’s spirit claims that Anna is his wife, even though she is married to someone else.
“This is disturbing her marriage. She was brought back home by our in-laws. Each time the spirit manifests on her, she attacks her husband, claiming that she belongs to the spirit,” said Tambarare.
In his response, Fungai said when the accident happened, he had refused to transport the children, but his late brother (Chidhinha’s father) insisted that he travels with them.
“He insisted that I should take the children with me and as I reversed to park, Chidhinha was crashed after the trailer unhooked from the tractor. The tractor also overturned and I broke my legs in the process. I was rushed to the hospital and upon being discharged, I was arrested.
“I honestly do not know how I was supposed to attend the funeral while I was in hospital and then in jail,” he said.
He, however, said he has already paid two cattle as part of appeasing the avenging spirit.
“I am only left with raising the US$700. I am not reluctant to appease the avenging spirit. I am just a poor man,” he said.
Acting Chief Saurombe adjourned the matter to November 26 to allow Fungai to raise the US$700 to appease the spirit.
Online Reporter