Aides assaulted for 1963 debt

and severely assaulted Chief Shumba’s aides after the chief ruled against their father over a 48-year-old debt.
Chief Shumba had ruled that the brothers’ father, Svusvu Mangwiro, settle the debt he owed since 1963 with five herd of cattle.
Brothers Munyaradzi (23), Misherk (27), Samuel (30) and Kudzi (19) from Gondoi Village beat-up the aides with logs.
The aides Jonathan Chandaona (67) and Albert Zimuto (56) both from Chekai Village in Muchakata were later admitted at Morgenster Mission Hospital after being left for dead.
Chief Shumba had earlier this month ordered Mangwiro, to pay five cattle to a fellow villager only identified as Machuma.
Machuma is said to have taken Mangwiro to the chief’s court demanding payment for a debt that had been outstanding since 1963. The amount of money involved could not be established at the time of writing. Police have since arrested Munyaradzi and Kudzi while Misheck and Samuel are on the run.
Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Tineyi Matake yesterday said they were hunting for the two brothers.
“We arrested two brothers who were part of a gang of four who assaulted two aides to Chief Shumba of Muchakata in protest over the chief’s decision to order their father to pay five cattle for a debt dating back to 1963.
“We are still investigating the matter and we have since launched a manhunt for the other two suspects, who are all facing assault charges,” he said.
Allegations are that sometime in 1963, Svusvu Mangwiro borrowed some money, then Rhodesian Pounds, from Machuma.
Machuma hails from the same village with the Mangwiros. Machuma has repeatedly failed to get back the money for the past 48 years.
Machuma took Mangwiro to the chief’s court demanding her dues with interest. Chief Shumba ruled in favour of Machuma ordering Mangwiro to pay the cattle as compensation.
The chief directed his aides to execute his ruling.
The two aides were driving the cattle when they were confronted by the four brothers who beat them before repossessing the cattle.
The aides were later rescued and taken to hospital after sustaining serious injuries.