Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A CHIMANIMANI woman’s ambitious plan to build an 80-room boarding house at her father’s homestead has sparked a bitter family dispute, with her brother allegedly declaring that she has no right to develop the property because he is the family’s only son.
The dispute came before Chief Saurombe’s community court, where Josephine Mundoita, accused her brother, Farai Mundoita, and sister, Taurai Mundoita, of unlawfully taking construction materials she had purchased for the project.
Josephine said she had bought 30 bags of cement, brick force and several loads of sand intending to build a boarding house at the family homestead.
She said the venture was meant to secure an income stream ahead of her retirement, while also helping to cover her father, Sekuru Mundoita’s living and medical expenses.
According to Josephine, she has invested heavily in improving the family homestead over the years, and was shocked to learn that building materials she had purchased were allegedly being used for another project.
“I have carried out several development projects at my parents’ homestead and constructed most of the buildings there. Recently, I bought 30 bags of cement, brick force and sand intending to build a boarding house. Later, my daughter informed me that a water tank was being constructed at the homestead using the cement and sand I had purchased,” she told the court.
Josephine said the dispute went beyond the building materials, claiming she had become estranged from her family after being accused of witchcraft and being blamed for her mother’s death.
“I am deeply hurt because some members of my family accuse me of causing our mother’s death through witchcraft. Because of these accusations, I have not set foot at the homestead for a long time. I want my cement back, but more importantly, I want the court to establish whether my father still considers me his child because I feel sidelined,” she said.
“I have spent years developing that homestead. The beds my siblings sleep on and some of the televisions they use were bought by me. Yet today my father refuses to even greet me.”
Farai dismissed the allegations and insisted that none of Josephine’s building materials had been taken.
However, he maintained that as the male child, the homestead ultimately belonged to him and his father, arguing that Josephine had no authority to spearhead major developments there.
“What Josephine is saying is not true. Let me make it clear that the homestead belongs to my father and me. It is not her homestead. Yes, she brought some cement there, but it is still at the homestead,” he said.
Farai explained that he had independently purchased cement to repair a leaking water tank at the property.
“After I discovered that my father’s tank was leaking, I bought 32 bags of cement. Josephine’s materials are still there. The court can come and inspect for itself. She has not been home for a long time and much of what she is saying is based on hearsay.”
He also denied claims that he had threatened or barred his sister from returning to the homestead.
“She is free to come and collect her cement and sand at any time. I never threatened her. In fact, I also had plans to build a boarding house at the homestead,” he said.
Taurai supported her brother’s version of events, telling the court that the construction materials remained untouched.
“Josephine said she wanted to build a boarding house at the homestead, but I did not take any of her cement. The materials are still there,” she said.
In his ruling, Chief Saurombe strongly rebuked Farai for claiming exclusive rights to the family homestead based solely on his gender while his father was still alive.
The traditional leader emphasised that all children are entitled to equal treatment and should not be excluded from family property matters.
“Farai cannot banish his sisters or any other sibling from the family homestead. Under our customary principles and the laws applied by the courts, children should be treated equally in inheritance matters. Siblings must not compete against one another or become jealous of each other’s success,” said Chief Saurombe.
The chief went further, stating that Farai had no authority to act as the head of the homestead while his father was still alive.
“As the adult son, Farai should establish his own homestead instead of trying to control one that belongs to his father. He has no right to chase away his siblings or deny them access. You cannot assume the role of family head on a homestead you did not build,” he said.
Describing the dispute as a sensitive family matter, Chief Saurombe said the family required counselling to repair broken relationships and restore harmony.
He ordered a court messenger to conduct an inspection to verify whether the disputed construction materials were still at the homestead.
“This family clearly needs counselling and dialogue to resolve these differences. The court will send a messenger to verify the position regarding the building materials. This matter must be resolved amicably because family unity is more important than conflict,” ruled Chief Saurombe.
