Two in court for extortion

who failed to pay school fees for children at a local primary school.
The two, Michael Homwe (59) the chairperson for Nyapfunde district and councillor Peter Nyakuba, used their political muscle to force parents to sell goats, chickens and other properties such as bicycles to their friends at giveaway prices as a way of raising the fees.

Homwe would mobilise the school headmaster, Zanu-PF youths and livestock buyers to confront the students and their guardians.
The two appeared before Mutoko Resident Magistrate, Mr Rueben Mukavhi who granted them US$50 bail each.
They will be back in court on October 28 for routine remand.

Their lawyer, Mr Charles Warara of Warara and Associates, successfully convinced Mr Mukavhi that they were proper candidates for bail.
Prosecutor, Mr Justin Milanzi, had opposed the application, saying that the pair was likely to use their political influence and interfere with State witnesses.
He said the two, as senior party members in the area, were likely to instill fear into the witnesses.

“You have not done anything to show the desire that you might interfere with witnesses and because you have not done anything, we can not say you might interfere,” said Mr Mukavhi.
He ordered the duo not to interfere with witnesses.
Nyakuba, who is facing two counts, was ordered to vacate his home and reside at his farm away from the witnesses.

Mr Milanzi said that on September 13 this year, Nyakuba used his political influence to threaten Obert Kabunze, forcing him to pay his children’s school fees at Chindoko Primary School, which was outstanding.

Kabunze explained to him that he did not have the balance of US$60, but Homwe ordered him to sell his four goats and chickens to Shepherd Jimu, a buyer he was moving around with in the company of the headmaster.

The headmaster, Mr Tawanda Mutidi, was then given the money.
On the second count, Nyakuba together with Mr Mutidi and Jimu proceeded to Gilbert Musvaire’s homestead.

Nyakuba confronted him over US$12, an outstanding balance for his children’s fees.
Nyakuba threatened to take away his ox-drawn plough if he failed to pay up the money.

He forced Musvaire to sell his black-horse bicycle to Jimu for US$12, which was then handed over to Mr Mutidi.
On September 15, Homwe led a group of people who included two Zanu-PF youths identified as Muneni and Mikirosi, Mutidi and two livestock buyers, Jimu and Nakisai Mazarura, to Fortunate Mutepaire’s homestead.

Homwe demanded US$25 from Mutepaire in respect of her children’s school fees, which was in arrears.
He threatened to remove some roofing sheets from the woman’s house if she failed to comply. Homwe then ordered the woman to sell her goat and four chickens to Jimu and Mazarura for US$25, which is far less the actual value of the livestock.

A police report was made, leading to Nyakuba and Homwe’s arrest.