Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika, Chronicle Reporter
A BITTER dispute over a farm inheritance has taken a dangerous turn in Mafanisa village, Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North province, pitting family members against each other and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Wellington Ncube and Ian Ncube, uncles of Innocent Ncube, have joined forces to forcefully evict their nephew and his family from the farm left to him by his late father, Bigboy Ncube, who passed away in June.
According to Bigboy Ncube’s will the farm was to be inherited by his son, Innocent. However, this decision has ignited resentment and jealousy within the family, with Wellington and Ian believing that they were more deserving of the property. Matters escalated further when gold deposits were discovered on the contested land, intensifying the fight for control.
The situation reached a boiling point when acts of violence occurred, endangering the lives of those residing on the farm. In a harrowing incident, property at the farm, including the family residence, was set ablaze while Innocent, his wife, Thobekile Ncube and their child were sleeping.
Fortunately, farm workers managed to wake them in time, but the fire caused extensive damage, including destruction of the crops they had painstakingly cultivated.
Disturbingly, their attempts to seek justice through legal channels hit a dead end. The police advised the family to report the matter to the traditional leadership, emphasising that it was a family dispute and not within their jurisdiction.
However, their hopes were dashed when it was revealed that one of the uncles had a position within the village council, casting doubts on the impartiality of the traditional court.
The repercussions of this ongoing feud are not limited to the immediate parties involved. The wider community is also affected, as the unrest threatens the stability of the region’s farming sector.
The farm, once a symbol of prosperity, now stands as a stark reminder of the breakdown in family relations and the erosion of trust.
Local community members have expressed concern over the escalating violence and its potential impact on the area’s social fabric. They call for swift intervention from authorities to bring about a peaceful resolution and ensure the safety of all parties involved.
“As a community we are worried about this fight that is ongoing within the Ncube family. The uncles have made it clear that they won’t rest until they get rid of Innocent, threatening unspecified action on the family.
“We have tried to intervene but the uncles are a violent lot, always going around with groups of youths and have even admitted that they are behind the inferno that hit the farm,” said one village.
As tensions continue to mount, the fate of the farm hangs in the balance. Will the family find a way to reconcile their differences and salvage their inheritance, or will the dispute escalate further, causing irreparable damage to relationships and the community at large? Only time will tell.
The harrowing ordeal has left the Ncube family in a precarious situation, caught in the crossfire of a bitter family feud over inheritance and lucrative discoveries on their ancestral land. It remains to be seen how this escalating dispute will be resolved and whether justice will prevail in the face of mounting adversity.
Online Reporter