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Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
A MAKONI family has landed itself in trouble with the traditional leadership for allegedly establishing a graveyard in their fields, shunning a community graveyard.
Headman Kanembirira of Nyamusosa Village is up in arms with the Gondo family of the same village. He accuses them of separately burying their departed members at an anthill in their plot without express consent from Chief Makoni.
The Gondo family which was represented by Richard Gondo who last month buried his departed wife at the graveyard to make it the sixth burial at the site, said they were given the nod to have their own graveyard by the late Headman Chitsike.
Headman Chitsike is from another village.
“There was a bereavement in their family, but they did not inform the traditional leadership.
“We heard of the funeral through the grapevine. I attended the funeral, and to my surprise, I learnt that they had already prepared the grave at their homestead.
“I enquired, and the family told me that there was nothing amiss about that since they had already buried other relatives there, dating back to the 1990s. I explained to them that this is against our culture, but they told me that they were prepared to face the consequences. Gondo actually said they can pay three beasts,” said Headman Kanembirira.
In his defence, Gondo claimed that his father who was resettled in the area in 1982 was granted permission to establish a family graveyard at his plot by the late Headman Chitsike.
“My late father was given permission by the late Headman Chitsike to establish the family graveyard at his plot. He was the first person to be buried there in 1995. My mother and my two siblings are also buried there.
“When my wife passed on, I buried her there as part of our family tradition.
“It was not a deliberate move not to inform the traditional leadership about the funeral.
“I was having issues with my in-laws who were refusing to bury their daughter over an outstanding lobola balance. I never said we are ready to face the consequences of disrespecting traditional values. The current Headman Chitsike has given me this letter to present before this court to prove that we had permission to establish our own graveyard,” said Gondo as he presented the letter to Chief Makoni.
Chief Makoni adjourned the matter to today to allow Headman Chitsike to testify before the community court that they sanctioned the Gondo family to bury their departed relatives at their homestead.
“Our Ungwe culture and tradition does not allow homestead burials. All people should be buried at a community graveyard. Unless there are very special circumstances, only Chief Makoni can grant a homestead burial.
“Caves are a preserve for the royal family members only. We are having problems with people who were resettled from other areas who want to force their culture on us. Homesteads and plots are for farming, not graves.
“It is not also commercially wise to establish graveyards on homesteads and plots because no buyer will want to occupy land littered with graves. Headman Chitsike has to appear in person and support the letter produced by Gondo. He also has to explain where he derived the powers from to allow homestead burials,” ruled Chief Makoni.
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