Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A FOUR-MONTH-LONG feud between two former best friends and neighbours culminated in Chief Makoni’s community court after one family accused the other of being behind a mysterious illness affecting a young woman.
Tawengwa Mubvakure yanked his neighbour and longtime friend, Itayi Chimwenye, to the traditional court seeking clarity over allegations linking him to the unexplained condition of Chimwenye’s daughter.
The court heard that the daughter, who had been working in Harare, was forced to return home after developing a strange illness characterised by frequent collapses and unusual behaviour. During her episodes, she allegedly repeatedly called for Mubvakure to come and assist her.
The incident sparked tension between the two families, who have reportedly not been on speaking terms for the past four months.
Mubvakure said the accusations surfaced when one of Chimwenye’s daughters approached him at his workplace and requested that he visit their homestead.
“She told me her sister was behaving strangely and that if I came to see her, she would recover,” said Mubvakure.
He said he immediately went to the Chimwenye homestead, only to learn that the sick woman had already been taken to his own home.
“When I arrived, Chimwenye’s wife instructed her daughter to repeat what she had allegedly said while I was away, but she failed to say anything meaningful. She appeared possessed and began calling out the names of people none of us knew,” he said.
Mubvakure believes the dispute may have stemmed from an earlier disagreement involving employment.
According to his testimony, Chimwenye had previously lost his job at a local farm. A year later, after the employee who replaced him was also dismissed, Mubvakure left his own job and accepted work at the same farm.
“When he discovered that I was now employed by his former employer, he stopped talking to me. Only his wife continued communicating with me,” said Mubvakure.
He further said he had offered to help the family seek the services of a traditional healer, but the arrangement fell through when Chimwenye and his wife failed to honour the agreement.
Relations between the two men later deteriorated further, culminating in a physical altercation.
“One day while I was at a bar, Chimwenye arrived with his son and demanded that I accompany them to their homestead to witness his daughter’s condition. I refused, reminding him that he had earlier declined my offer to help. He pushed me and I fell. His wife then grabbed me by the collar and kicked me,” said Mubvakure.
He claimed that Chimwenye’s wife later accused him of using juju, which she alleged had contributed to her husband’s dismissal from his former job.
“I did not respond because Chimwenye was once my closest friend. I regarded him as a brother since we share the same totem,” he said.
Responding to the allegations, Chimwenye said his daughter’s illness began while she was employed in Harare.
“My daughter was working in Harare when she started collapsing unexpectedly. Her employer informed us that she was making strange utterances and eventually sent her back home,” he said.
“Even after returning home, she continued collapsing and repeatedly requested that Mubvakure be called. We have recordings in which she asks for him and claims that he is her relative.”
Chief Makoni referred the matter to his resident traditional healer for assessment. The traditional healer attributed the young woman’s condition to unresolved issues concerning her family’s paternal lineage.
During the proceedings, Chimwenye revealed that he uses his mother’s surname and totem because he does not know his biological father.
The court advised him to begin tracing his paternal roots, saying unresolved family lineage issues were the source of the misfortunes affecting his household.
Chief Makoni subsequently closed the matter, urging both families to restore peace and good relations in the community.
