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Rusape Correspondent
A HEADMAN under Chief Makoni was made to pay for the transgressions committed by his predecessor 42 years ago when he allowed a family to set up a private graveyard in their plot.
Headman Tonderai Chitsike of Chitsike Village appeared before Chief Makoni’s community court recently to answer to allegations of permitting the Gondo family to set up a private graveyard in their plot.
The matter was first brought before the community court by a neighbouring village head, Kanembirira who accused a villager, Richard Gondo of burying his wife at an anthill in his plot.
In his defence, Gondo told the community court that their family was given permission by the late Headman Callistas Chitsike to establish their own graveyard in 1982.
The graveyard now has six graves.
Headman Chitsike told the court that his late uncle who was the headman in 1982 gave the Gondos the nod to set up the private graveyard.
“It is true that the Gondos have their own graveyard in their plot. My late uncle, Callistas Chitsike who was the headman at that time gave them permission to do so. I was still very young.
“Should I be punished for someone else’s transgressions?” said the distraught Headman Chitsike.
The court ruled that Headman Chitsike and his clan were guilty of disregarding the Vaungwe culture and tradition which they should have jealously guarded.
The Gondo family was cleared of any wrongdoing after it was established that they acted on wrong advice.
“Headman Chitsike, you cannot run away from the errors of omissions and commissions committed by your predecessor. The late headman made a mistake and you also repeated the same mistake by allowing Gondo to bury his wife at his homestead especially after attempts by Headman Kanembirira to stop it.
“You should be the guardian of our culture, norms and values, but you have been found wanting.
“It is something that is very common in our area that we do not allow homestead burials or private gravesites. You are therefore fined one beast for the offence.
“Go and gather the other Chitsikes so that they contribute to the payment of the fine.
“The Gondos are cleared of the offence because they acted on wrong advice,” ruled the court.
Online Reporter