Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A GROUP of nephews was dragged to a community court for allegedly assaulting their uncle over a bitter land dispute that has divided the Mutasa family.
The complainant, Givas Chakatsva Changunda, accused his nephew, Christopher Changunda and his brothers of ganging up to attack him after a long-standing feud over ownership of a family plot.
The matter appeared before Chief Mutasa’s court recently.
Chakatsva said the land in question was allocated to him by his elder brother, who was the village head, after he returned home following the death of his father.
However, his nephews now claim ownership of the same piece of land.
“I was born in Mutoko where my father worked as a teacher. After his death, I returned home and my brother, who was the village head, gave me a piece of our father’s land.
“Everything was peaceful until Christopher claimed ownership of the land. He vandalised my fence, and is also threatening me. These boys have no respect for their elders,” explained Chakatsva.
The matter drew in other family members, including Sekuru Steven Changunda, who accused their nephews of sowing seeds of division and disrespect in the family.
“These boys have been troublesome for a long time and have caused serious discord in the family. They are our sister’s grandchildren, and by tradition, they should not even be using the Changunda name.
“Yet they go around claiming that the land in questions belongs to their sons. They are so disrespectful that I have since disowned them,” declared Sekuru Changunda.
However, Christopher denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the land rightfully belonged to him as he had developed it before leaving for Botswana.
“I was in Botswana when I heard that my land had been parcelled out to Chakatsva. When I called the village head to clarify the issue, he ignored me.
“I had already planted trees and fibres on that land in question, and had built some structures. I asked my younger brother to erect a fence around the land, but when I came back, I discovered that my uncle had fenced the same area, and my fence was now inside his. That is what caused the misunderstanding,” said Christopher.
The court heard that tempers later flared, leading to the nephews allegedly ganging up to assault their uncle.
The incident shocked villagers, and forced the family to seek the intervention of traditional authorities.
Chief Mutasa chastised the young men for their disrespect, and ordered an on-site assessment to verify the land’s rightful ownership.
“It is shameful that nephews can raise their hands against their uncles, especially when they are staying on their ancestral land.
“Our tradition values respect and peace within families. Such behaviour is unacceptable. I will send my emissaries to assess the situation on the ground, but I must emphasise that disrespecting elders and fighting over land is a serious cultural offence,” said Chief Mutasa.
The chief further warned the nephews that the family feud can bring lasting division and misfortune, urging the Changunda family to restore peace.
“Land should not tear families apart. Resolve your issues with dialogue and humility. When families fight, no one wins, only bitterness remains,” he cautioned.
The case was adjourned pending the outcome of the court’s inspection in loco.
