The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent —
CHIEF Makoni, Colgen Simbayi Gwasira has courted controversy again after being accused of allegedly extorting vulnerable villagers’ livestock, farming implements, household property and cash.
The beleaguered Gwasira is facing 16 counts of extortion emanating from the alleged illegal traditional court he set up in Mayo Resettlement Area. Gwasira is alleged to have tried and convicted 16 villagers for various traditional ‘offences’.
Gwasira was supposed to appear in court on December 27, 2016 before it was declared a holiday.
According to the charge sheet, Gwasira is alleged to have forced villagers to attend the court, passed judgments and executed them. The combined potential prejudice is $18 230 and the loss suffered by the villagers is $4 540.
“During the period extending from January 1, 2016 to October 31, 2016, at Mayo Resettlement Scheme, Colgen Gwasira hatched a plan to illegitimately exert pressure on the 16 complainants for the purpose of extracting an advantage for himself and other persons. He established what he purported to be a court in Village 22 Resettlement which does not fall under his jurisdiction. Gwasira claimed to be superior over other chiefs which is contrary to the law.
“During the same period, Gwasira would summon villagers and would force them to attend court, passed judgments and executed them. He would, when one fails to attend, pass default judgments and executed them. By so doing, the complainants lost their valuables that include 50 cattle, 36 goats, wheelbarrows, ploughs, cultivators, bailing boxes, hoes, shovels, beds, kitchen units, radio, hens and $250 cash,” read the State outline.
In an unrelated matter, Gwasira who last year was convicted of obstructing a Messenger of Court from executing his duties, is facing three charges of extortion after he allegedly forced three villagers to work for him for eight hours after he caught them fetching firewood on his Headlands farm.
According to the State outline, Gwasira exerted illegitimate pressure on Blessing Makopore, Laina Chape and Sarudzai Mutinhima by threatening them with summons to his court if they refused to work for him.
“On June 5, 2016, Blessing Makopore (29), Laina Chape (29) and Sarudzai Chifamba (29) all of Plot 2, Bethel Kopje, Headlands went to Gwasira’s farm to fetch firewood. While in the farm they were arrested by security guards and handed over to Gwasira.
“Gwasira gave an order to the security guards to give the complainants work to do in the fields as compensation for their case. The complainants were forced to work in the fields for eight hours after having been threatened by Gwasira that he would haul them before his court if they refused to comply with his orders.
“Gwasira had no right to act in the manner he did,” reads the State outline. The case will also be heard this month.
