admintraditional court to face charges of not properly accounting for the Constituency Development Fund to the people.
The chief also accused Mr Chitando of undermining his authority and insulting him.
Mr Chitando is expected to appear before Chief Murinye on 28 December in Murinye communal lands in Masvingo Central to explain the CDF finances and be fined for insulting the chief through text messages.
One of the messages allegedly sent by Mr Chitando to Chief Murinye reads: “Sekuru (Chief Murinye) pano pasi rose Mwari haasati andisikira murume wandinotya, saka musatamba nenguva yenyu plus ini handisi subject yemunhu ndiri subject yaJehovha.”
Another one reads: ” . . . kuita mambo wevanhu here uku? Ndinouya musi waunoda ndigoona zvaunondiita ini ndakasiyana neava vaunorova.”
Mr Chitando becomes the second high profile MDC-T official to be summoned to appear before a chief’s court after his party leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was summoned to appear before Chief Negomo of Chiweshe last week.
PM Tsvangirai faced charges of paying lobola for Ms Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo during the sacred month of November, which is considered taboo.
He was fined 2 beasts and 2 sheep in absentia.
Chief Murinye confirmed he had summoned Mr Chitando to his court to explain how he used the CDF and also to be fined for allegedly insulting him verbally and through mobile phone text messages.
He said the decision to summon Mr Chitando to account for the CDF was precipitated by complaints from his subjects who wanted an explanation on how he used the US$50 000 fund for Masvingo Central.
“It is true I have already sent my aides to hand him (Chitando) the summons to appear before my court on 28 December this year,” said Chief Murinye.
“We moved the date forward after he asked to be excused. I want him to explain how he used the CDF because people have been complaining to me that they do not know how the funds were used and they are demanding an explanation so I want him to explain to me so that I can they tell my subjects.
“I also want him to appear before my court so that I fine him for insulting me. He insulted me verbally and through text messages, so he will simply appear before my court for the purposes of reading out his fine.”
Chief Murinye said he will not try Mr Chitando for the insults but will simply fine him.
Mr Chitando said he will appear before Chief Murinye’s court on the said date, but maintained that he had nothing to fear.
He said he was yet to receive the summons but had been verbally told by Chief Murinye to appear before his court on 28 December.
“I will attend Chief Murinye’s court as a happy man because I have nothing to fear or hide, everyone in my constituency knows how I used the CDF money,” he said.
“I consulted everyone from headmen, councillors and even chiefs, and maybe Chief Murinye had not yet been installed as chief that time.
“On the charge of insulting him, this is trumped up because I only told him to stay away from politics not as a chief but as my uncle. Chief Murinye is my uncle and I was only advising him not to dabble in politics.”
Mr Chitando accused Chief Muri-nye of siding with some prospective candidates who wanted to contest the Masvingo Central constituency in next year’s elections.
Online Reporter