Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A GRIEVING Chimanimani family is demanding compensation from Jealousy Munotsiwa, the man they hold responsible for the tragic road accident that claimed the life of their relative, Lazarus Sigauke, earlier this year.
The case was heard at Chief Muusha’s community court last Saturday.
According to the Sigauke family, Munotsiwa was driving without headlights at night, posing a danger to other road users.
Although Munotsiwa covered the funeral and burial expenses, the Sigauke family insists that his financial responsibilities should not end there.
Daniel Sigauke, the deceased’s younger brother, told the court that their family is now facing harassment from village head Chinyai, of Checheche, where Lazarus was buried.
Chinyai is demanding a beast as compensation for the death that occurred in his jurisdiction.
Daniel argued that the burden of meeting the traditional leader’s demands has unfairly been shifted onto them.
He recounted the tragic events surrounding his brother, Lazarus’s death in a road accident before Chief Muusha’s community court.
“My brother was a passenger on a motorbike driven by Tinashe. Munotsiwa’s car which was driving without headlights hit them at night. My brother died on the spot. We reported the incident to the police, but there was no arrest, just statements recorded. We are still waiting for the matter to appear in court,” said Daniel.
“We buried our brother in Chief Musikavanhu’s area. Now, Village head Chinyai is tormenting us, demanding a beast. Apparently, he had an agreement with Munotsiwa, who has since disappeared. We do not know what to do anymore,” he explained.
Munotsiwa admitted responsibility for the accident, but claimed he had fulfilled his immediate obligations.
“I paid for all the funeral and burial expenses, including transportation, costing around US$1 500. I did not run away from my responsibilities,” he said, disputing the claim that he had agreed to pay the beast demanded by the village head.
Munotsiwa clarified that village head Chinyai’s demand for a beast was unrelated to the accident, but rather due to the Sigauke family’s failure to inform him of the funeral in his area.
He maintained that the accident occurred under Chief Muusha’s jurisdiction.
Chief Muusha, presiding over the case, acknowledged the complexity, but viewed the incident as an unfortunate tragedy rather than a deliberate act.
“This was an accident, and I do not see why Munotsiwa should pay further reparations. Accidents happen — it was not intentional. Police investigations are ongoing, and my court cannot pass judgment before the conclusions of the investigations,” said Chief Muusha.
The chief recognised Munotsiwa’s financial efforts, covering funeral and burial costs, as sufficient for now.
However, he advised both families to consult traditional healers to determine the necessary steps for appeasement or closure.
“The spiritual weight of death in our communities must be acknowledged. I recommend that both families seek guidance from traditional healers to ensure proper closure,” said Chief Muusha.
In a symbolic gesture of admission of guilty, Elijah Munotsiwa, Jealousy’s father, handed over US$70 to the court.
The payment is intended to cover part of the expenses for consulting a traditional healer.
Chief Muusha adjourned the matter until the families complete the consultation process with spiritualists expected to reveal what the late Lazarus’s spirit demands for peace and resolution, guiding the families towards closure.
