Chigwedere dismisses bribery allegations

Mubaiwa in Hwedza.
The former Education, Sport and Culture Minister is embroiled in a headmanship wrangle with a Hwedza villager and relative Mr Raines Chadoka. 
Outlining his defence in the civil trial at the High Court, Cde Chigwedere said he actually paid two cattle and two goats to Mr Zindoga Chibonore as fine and to meet other requirements for the installation ceremony.
Cde Chigwedere said one cow and a goat were a fine for insulting Mr Chibonore while another cow and goat were paid as per custom at the installation ceremony.
Cde Chigwedere said he was guilty of scolding Mr Chibonore and before he handled the headmanship case, he fined him.
“Mr Chibonore was known for smoking dagga, playing makasa at the shopping centre when he was acting chief.
“I was MP and the people complained to me that he was tainting the royal family.
“We then approached him advising him to desisting from such practices but he took it to be an insult.
“When I appeared before him with the headmanship case, he publicly raised the issue and my cousin called Gudo paid him Z$20 million as a sign of accepting the offence.
“He then fined us a cow and a goat. The goat was for munongedzo.
“Bribery is always underhand and it is done undercover. The issue was discussed at a meeting in the presence of many people and calling it bribery makes it an interesting           one.
“According to the Svosve tradition each time the chief installs a headman, he should get a cow and a goat.
“We ended up paying two cattle and two goats to the chief.”
Cde Chigwedere said the Mubaiwa headmanship rotated between two families the Chipango (Chigwedere) and the Munzverengwi (Chadoka).