The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Post Correspondent—
HEADMEN who are clandestinely working with tsikamutandas, assisting them to extort villagers’ money and livestock will be stripped of their headmanship, warned Chief Mutasa.
Acting Chief Mutasa recently held a meeting at his shrine with 18 headmen in his area warning them against working with the “fraudsters”, saying he would not hesitate to fire any of them if there are caught offside.
The meeting was also attended by Mutasa District Administrator, Mr Tendai Kapenzi among others.
“It has come to my attention that these tsikamutandas are working in unison with some of my headmen to extort money and livestock from unsuspecting villagers, forcing them to attend their so-called cleansing ceremonies. This is unacceptable and I will not hesitate to crack my whip on anyone who defies my order. Government’s stance on tsikamutanda is very clear, but it seems some of my headmen are actually working with these fraudsters to siphon money and livestock from my villagers.
“If anyone is caught offside, that will leave me with no choice than to press misconduct charges against perpetrators.
“These tsikamutandas are operating illegally and allowing them to operate is a clear violation of the constitutional rights of the people,” he said.
“I derive authority in Sections 58 and 60 of the constitution. Section 60 (1) (a) of the constitution states: ‘Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, which includes freedom of thought, opinion, religion or belief.’ Section 58 (1) states that ‘every person has the right of freedom of assembly and association and the right not to assemble or associate with others, (2) no person may be compelled to belong to an association or to attend a meeting or gathering,’” he added.
Recently, a suspected traditional healer, Gama Gomba (35), who many knew him as Sekuru Gurajena was arrested for allegedly engaging in a massive “cleansing” exercise in Zimunya, collecting livestock and cash from poor villagers.
Police said Gomba was arrested after he allegedly extorted a disabled couple – Gorden and Tracy Chivhunge – of three beasts, six goats and $90.
Acting Chief Zimunya in December last year stripped troublesome village head, Isaac Nyamana, of headmanship after he was found guilty of working with dubious witch-hunters, popularly known as tsikamutanda, who were and are still terrorising villagers in Zimunya area.
The disgraced traditional leader was accused of openly working with the feared extortionists out of greediness while misleading villagers in his area into believing they had the full blessings of Government and Chief Zimunya.
He was ordered to surrender his paraphernalia to Chief Zimunya in full view of traditional leaders and police officers at the former’s homestead in Bvirindi Village in Dora Dombo.
