Victory at last!

Tendai Chara

AT 90 years of age, Sekuru Johani Phillimon Kayiboni, of Village 6, Arda Transau, in Odzi, about 15 kilometres outside Mutare, is still as fit as a fiddle.

Looking younger than his age, Sekuru Kayiboni is still capable of doing the chores that men half his age struggle with.

Light skinned and slight in stature, Sekuru Kayiboni was without doubt a handsome man in his youthful days.

Always wearing a happy smile, Sekuru Kayiboni can easily pass off as a 50 year-old.

Sekuru Kayiboni is, however, not popularly known for his looks or state of health.

Instead, he is popularly known as the Marange polygamist who fought and won a five year-old protracted struggle against diamond mining company, Anjin Investments.

The bitter struggle erupted after the diamond mining company reneged on its pledge to provide decent accommodation for his 14 wives and his “over 70” children.

At Gamunorwa Village in Chiadzwa where he was relocated from, Sekuru Kayiboni had constructed 37 rooms for his 14 wives.

When the Kayiboni family was moved to Odzi to pave way for Anjin’s Chiadzwa milling plant, a dilapidated farmhouse was offered by the company as accommodation.

He flatly refused the lodgings, arguing that he wanted the company to provide his family with the same model of houses as the ones he had constructed in Marange.

In a futile bid to solve the disagreement, the Chinese company constructed a 14-roomed house which was, however, again rejected by the Kayiboni family.

The company, however, availed eight houses, which were promptly occupied by Kayiboni’s eight wives.

Six of Sekuru Kayiboni’s wives could not be accommodated in the eight houses, resulting in the wives forcibly moving into houses that were meant for teachers.

A member of the Johane Marange apostolic sect, Sekuru Kayiboni and his wives vowed not to leave the houses until the situation was fully addressed.

The father of “more than 70 children” insisted he was ready to die for his rights.

Law enforcement agencies moved swiftly, arresting the Kayiboni family which had since constructed shacks as the teachers’ houses could not accommodate them all.

After realising that the mining company was not taking him seriously Sekuru Kayiboni, with his loyal wives, decided to take their struggle a bit further.

The family then camped at the Mutare District administrator`s offices where they erected shacks and prepared their meals in the open. Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene then intervened resulting in the Kayiboni family being allocated six more houses, bringing to an end the five-year dispute.

Last week, The Sunday Extra met Sekuru Kayiboni who spoke about a dispute that left him physically drained.

Sekuru Kayiboni’s actions have clearly divided public opinion.

To some, he is a stubborn and controversial character who fought a needless war.

Others, however, see him as a fearless human rights defender.

“I am not a controversial character,” he shoots back. “Remember I was not the one who approached Anjin seeking accommodation. I had a beautiful home in Marange and my wives were happy there. I could not just sit down and look whilst my family was being reduced to squatters,” Sekuru Kayiboni said.

Arda Transau Relocation Development Trust (ATRDT) chairman, Cephas Gwayagwaya described Sekuru Kayiboni as a fearless human rights defender.

“He stood up for his rights and won. We have young people who are not happy about certain issues regarding relocation but are not voicing their concerns. Sekuru Kayiboni is a fighter who set a good example,” Mr Gwayagwaya said.

Some of the villagers, however, feel otherwise.

“He is stubborn and controversial. What does he need all the 14 houses for,” asked a villager who requested anonymity.

The fight for decent accommodation, however, left the polygamist both financially and physically spent.

Apart from making countless visits to the mining company’s offices in Chiadzwa, Sekuru Kayiboni also took his case to several other offices as he sought to have his grievance addressed.

Visits were made to the offices of several Government ministers, the Mutare Provincial Administrator’s offices among others.

“I sold everything of value. I had 27 herds of cattle and all that is gone. I sold my goats, chicken, building materials and even my bed and sofas. I am now a poor, old man,” bemoaned Sekuru Kayiboni.

Before the relocation the polygamist entertained thoughts of marrying five more wives. He has, however, cancelled those plans.

“You need money to get more wives. I am not going to marry more wives since I am not capable of looking after them now.

“This relocation exercise ruined my life,” a bitter Sekuru Kayiboni said.

After five years of turmoil he wants nothing but rest.

“After years of walking up and down, all I need to do now is rest. We have issues to do with compensation that were not addressed but after what I went through, I need time to rest. I wish I was a bit younger,” he concluded.