Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa
Senior Reporter
THE enduring popularity of Culture and Heritage Ambassador, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Dare initiative was evident at Chief Negomo’s traditional court in Chiweshe, where multitudes gathered to witness proceedings rooted in Zimbabwean culture and values.
The huge turnout reflected growing public confidence in traditional courts as an effective forum for resolving disputes.
They provide swift, accessible and culturally grounded justice while emphasising dialogue, reconciliation and the restoration of harmony.
The First Lady, also found time to attend the traditional court session while spending the weekend at her rural home in Chiweshe, where she was preparing for the unveiling of family tombstones.
During her stay, she visited Chief Negomo’s traditional court, where she observed proceedings and gained deeper insight into the vital role traditional leaders play in resolving community disputes and promoting social harmony.
The session also attracted Cabinet ministers, senior Government officials, traditional leaders and members of the public. Their presence underscored confidence in traditional leadership as a trusted pillar of dispute resolution and social cohesion.
Several cases were heard, including disputes involving ngozi appeasement, allegations of immorality after a son-in-law was accused of bedding his mother-in-law, juju allegations involving a 2023 presidential aspirant and his wife, family disputes and other community matters.
Among the cases that left the court shell-shocked were allegations by Headman Taurai Chimota that Wallace Sande had been caught red-handed bedding his mother-in-law.
Sande’s wife narrated how she allegedly discovered the incident.
“Murume wangu akabuda achiti arikuenda kushop. Ndikamutevera ndikaona achipinda mumba maamai vangu,” she said.
(“My husband left the house saying he was going to the shop. I followed him and saw him entering my mother’s bedroom.”)
“Paakasvika mai vangu vakabuda vakatarisa panze ndokuzvikiira door nemukati. Asi door racho raiva nemaburi, saka ndakadongorera ndikavaona vachiita bonde. Ndikazomutsa vaigara pamba pedyo. Tikavawana vachiri kuita bonde.”
(“When he arrived, my mother came outside, looked around and locked the door from inside. However, the door had holes, so I peeped through and saw them having sexual intercourse. I then alerted neighbours and together we found them still having sexual intercourse.”) Witnesses also gave evidence before the Dare, incriminating Sande, who initially denied the allegations before later apologising for his immoral behaviour. After hearing the matter, the court directed both Sande and his mother-in-law to undertake the customary process of appeasement. They were ordered to pay compensation, including cattle, sheep, a white cloth and a goat to Sande’s wife as part of the traditional settlement.
Another interesting matter involved 2023 presidential aspirant Engineer Wilbert Mubaiwa and his estranged wife, Mrs Shingai Mubaiwa.
Mrs Mubaiwa alleged that her husband accused her of using juju to destroy his presidential ambitions in the presence of their children and workers. She also said she had text messages to support her claims.
She further accused him of neglecting his family and locking her out of their matrimonial home.
While Mr Mubaiwa denied the allegations, several women testified in support of Mrs Mubaiwa’s claims. After considering the evidence, the court ruled against him.
Chief Negomo urged the couple to reconcile for the sake of their children and family, encouraging them to resolve their differences amicably.
Mubaiwa is a serial loser at the polls. His electoral defeats are not limited to contests against the President; wherever he has stood for office, voters have rejected him.
In the 2018 harmonised elections, he contested the Guruve South parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, losing dismally, underscoring Mubaiwa’s repeated failures at the ballot box.
The constituency is represented by the Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Christopher Magomo.
The Dare also heard a suspected ngozi dispute involving members of the Chinhema family, whose father allegedly killed their mother.
The dispute centred on allegations that the deceased woman’s spirit was demanding 15 beasts as a form of appeasement.
The Chinhema children were reluctant to take responsibility for the compensation despite allegations that the ngozi was manifesting among some of their relatives.
The court heard that the deceased was allegedly manifesting through one of the Chinhema family’s daughters, who had reportedly been troubled for some time.
It was further alleged that the child had refused to remain with her parents and instead went to stay with relatives from the deceased’s family. The court also heard that she refused to sleep on a bed, preferring to sleep on the floor.
Both sides presented their accounts, which revealed that they had at one point been duped by suspected fake traditional healers.
They disputed some of the allegations, denied wrongdoing and described unsuccessful efforts to verify the claims through traditional healers.
With 12 members of the Chinhema family present in court, Chief Negomo directed each member to contribute one beast, while other relatives would help provide the remaining three beasts required to complete the 15.
He said the arrangement was in the best interests of both families in appeasing the ngozi, settling the dispute and restoring harmony within the family.
Environmental degradation caused by rampant illegal mining activities within Chief Negomo’s jurisdiction, including operations at Jumbo Mine, also came under scrutiny.
Community members complained about uncovered mining pits, saying several people had fallen into them. One recent case involving a person who died after falling into an abandoned pit was brought before the court.
Residents also raised concerns over rampant tree cutting and rising criminal activities around the area.
Chief Negomo urged village heads and other traditional leaders to strengthen efforts to protect forests and safeguard the environment.
After the court proceedings, the Culture and Heritage Ambassador said traditional courts remain key pillars of the country’s judicial system.
Dr Mnangagwa said the cases heard at Chief Negomo’s court reflected the same issues being dealt with in traditional courts across the country.
She, however, warned people against making unfounded allegations of witchcraft, saying such accusations often leave lasting divisions within families and communities.
Also the country’s Environmental Patron, the First Lady urged communities to protect natural resources, warning that environmental destruction threatens the livelihoods of present and future generations.
She encouraged people to access free tree seedlings from the Forestry Commission to support afforestation efforts.
Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cde Kazembe Kazembe, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mazowe West, and Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Christopher Magomo also condemned acts that undermine family values and environmental conservation.
The huge turnout reaffirmed the growing popularity of the First Lady’s Dare initiative.
It also highlighted continued public appreciation of traditional courts as a fast, effective and culturally relevant complement to the country’s justice delivery system.
