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E-mailFrom ROHR Zimbabwe Information Department
On 4th May Chief Kasekete of Muzarabani ordered a group of ten marauders to forcibly take three beasts, two goats and two chickens from the Machimbidzofa family of Kagoda village. The livestock were taken as payment for allegedly insulting ZANU PF supporter and war veteran Andrew Chiwere.
Andrew Chiwere is believed to have connived with Chief Kasekete to have two brothers Alfred and Benjamin Machimbidzofa arrested by the police on allegations that the two insulted him and threw stones at his house. The two brothers deny the charges and accuse the controversial chief, of abusing his office to sway the course of justice in order to vindictively punish them because they are supporters of the MDC party.
After the chief lobbied for the arrest of the Machimbidzofa brothers, he deployed a team of his supposed police to inflict further pain by sanctioning day light robbery of livestock belonging to the mother of the two brothers. By the time of reporting the case to ROHR Zimbabwe, Chief Kasekete had already sold one of the beasts as payment to his agents in confiscating the livestock and the other two beasts were handed to Chiwere to sell. The selling of the beast was fast tracked defying even the legal procedures and laid down protocols which govern the theft of livestock in rural areas.
Among the group of the people who were identified who came to steal the livestock were Andrew Chiwere himself, Herdman Kagoda, Robert Chaerera, Kurauone Chiwere and one Madzibaba Brian.
Reporting their case to ROHR Zimbabwe, the brothers broke into tears narrating their ordeal in the hands of callous chief. They said after the beasts were taken the chief ordered their arrest and they were locked up for a further two days without food and water at a nearby police camp.
Alfred and Benjamin were both victims of political violence during the reign of terror of 2008. Their houses were burnt and at one time they were severely beaten by youth militia at the behest of Andrew Chiwere. They accuse Chiwere of spearheading the terror in Kagoda village, mobilizing youth militia and directing uniformed forces to brutalize people during the election period in 2008.
Speaking to ROHR Zimbabwe, Agreement Kagura the Muzarabani North district secretary said the problem is that the chief is a ZANU PF supporter and he is fighting his battle to destroy the MDC party in Muzarabani. He further went on to reveal that this chief, a self confessed ardent supporter of ZANU PF, is abusing public forums in which he calls for meetings to carry out ZANU PF party business to the dismay of other villagers who support other parties of their choice.
In another separate incident chief Kasekete held a meeting in March in which he gathered all the herdsmen in Muzarabani and instructed the church leaders of all church groups to bar supporters of MDC from attending church or face the wrath of violence.
As ROHR Zimbabwe we are greatly perturbed by the magnitude of the corrupt leadership exhibited by chief Kasekete. His position warrants him to be an independent officer who should facilitate the provision of justice among his people but regrettably he has become a law unto himself and abuses his office to rob the poor, enrich himself through elicit means, suppress victims and distort the course of justice. AS ROHR Zimbabwe we reiterate that chief Kasekete’s activities are not only illegal but they are tantamount to undermining the agreements of the GPA under section 13 which state that the three political parties agreed to ensure the neutrality of traditional leaders so that they do not engage in partisan political activities at the national level as well as in their communities.
ROHR Zimbabwe is committed to campaigning for retributive and restorative justice to take place in the criminal offence committed by chief Kasekete as matter of principle because if such acts of impunity are allowed to flourish they will set a dangerous precedent within the community as a reference point for further gross abuse of rights of innocent people.
During this time of hardship in which most families are struggling with livelihood support after they lost their property and livestock to terror of 2008, it is unthinkable that a leader continues to take from the poor. It is a mockery of leadership and it reflects badly on the political party he represents. It also mocks the liberators who fought for liberation during the Ian Smith regime.
It is regrettable that the National Healing process is being blocked by intransigent forces in ZANU PF whose supporters are still bent on reversing the efforts being made during the transition period which should lead to democratic elections to enable people to elect a legitimate government of their choice without fear of repression.
For
For Peace, Justice and Freedom
