The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
A 79-year-old Mutasa grandpa has been hauled before the criminal courts on allegations of pledging his four-year-old daughter to another family as compensation for an avenging spirit of a murdered relative that was ravaging his family.
Garikayi Benjamin Chanaiva from Headman Zindi under Chief Mutasa appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Mrs Gloria Takundwa, for contravening Section 94 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act which criminalises the pledging of a female person under the age of 18 years.
Chanaiva who was being represented by Mr Cosmas Chibaya of Chibaya and Partners pleaded not guilty.
Public prosecutor Mr Kelvin Mufure told the court that the crime was committed in 2013. He said the complainant, who is now a Grade 3 pupil, was forcibly taken by her father to the Chanaiva’s homestead which is situated in Timaremoyo Village as compensation for a murder his late father committed.
It is alleged that the accused father murdered his brother some years back and thus the complainant was given to Violet Chanaiva – who is the wife of the murdered husband – to appease the avenging spirit.
“The complainant was against the move but because of her young age she could not do anything. The accused person handed her over to Violet in 2013 and since then she has been staying at that homestead.
However, the police got a tip off about the case last year and on 10 October law enforcement agents took the girl and returned her to her parents. The accused person was subsequently charged over the matter,” said Mr Mufute.
Benjamin pleaded not guilty saying it was Violet’s son, Kezo Chanaiva, who forcibly took his daughter from him in 2013. The State queried why he did not report Kezo to the police at the time he took his daughter from him. Mrs Takundwa will pass judgment on May 11.
