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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A ZAOGA church elder who last month defied summons to appear before Chief Marange’s court has approached the civil courts seeking a peace order against his daughter and brother.
Fungai Mukaronda told the court that his daughter, Anne-Grace Mutsaga and his brother, Tafadzwa Mukaronda, are trying to force him to consult traditional healers against his will.
The parties appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato, and Fungai was being represented by Mutare lawyer, Mr Brian Majamanda of Khupe Law Chambers.
Mr Majamanda highlighted that there is bad blood between the two parties and begged the court to intervene.
“If the peace order is not granted, the parties will be on each other’s throats and we might end up reading about them again in The Manica Post after they would have killed each other. When the matter appeared in court before, a scuffle erupted between the parties,” he said.
The parties were in the news last month due to a family feud that is being ironed out at Chief Marange’s court, with Fungai being asked to join the family in consulting traditional and faith healers to find a lasting solution to the family’s problems.
“Your Worship, a father has taken his biological daughter to court. There is obviously no peace and if this order is not granted, chaos will erupt,” said Mr Majamanda.
He said Fungai’s wife, Moleen Mukaronda, is currently bedridden due to the high blood pressure that is being triggered by the raging feud.
“Moleen is not feeling well because of what her daughter and brother-in-law are doing to the family. The doctor ordered her to have a bed rest because of the health complications emanating from this dispute,” said Mr Majamanda.
However, the respondents who were being represented by Mr Hastings Sithole of Legal Aid Directorate argued that the matter should be struck off the court’s row.
Mr Sithole stated that the peace order application should only be considered after the matter before Chief Marange has been finalised.
“He is trying to avoid appearing before Chief Marange’s court despite it being an honourable court just like any other court,” said Mr Sithole.
“The chief only wants to find out what is causing the family feud and is not accusing anyone of anything. The affidavit they filed before this court is full of lies and should be thrown out.
“They claim that my clients are accusing Fungai of wizardry basing on an article that was published in The Manica Post. However, Your Worship, the article does not say that the complainant is a wizard. That was just a journalist doing her job. She wrote that Chief Marange has been trying to summon Fungai to his court,” said Mr Sithole.
Ruling is expected this week.
The Mukarondas claim that they have been living in hell due to suspected spiritual attacks that are believed to be behind the mental illnesses and road accidents targeting family members every February.
It is believed that the late Mandunga Mukaronda who died in 1989 triggered the attacks. Aggrieved family members accuse one of Mandunga’s sons of harbouring them.
The family, represented by Tafadzwa, Tugwe and John Mukaronda recently approached Chief Marange in an effort to get their elder brother, Fungai, to be summoned to the court.
Fungai, however, has vowed never to appear before Chief Marange’s court, arguing that he is not under Chief Marange’s jurisdiction.
“I do not stay there. I stay in Mutare and I can only appear before the civil court. In fact, I have a standing protection order against John. He once viciously assaulted me some years back while forcing me to confess that I am a wizard. I am not a wizard. I am no longer in Chief Marange’s jurisdiction and cannot appear before his court.
“I am also in the process of suing all those who are tarnishing my image and defaming me. I will not be forced to go to traditional healers, never. I am a Christian. If they continue pestering me, I will seek legal recourse because they are soiling my good standing in the society,” said Fungai.
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