By Ndinatsei Mavodza
MASVINGO – Two brothers from Bikita were dragged to court for allegedly assaulting their 62-year-old paternal uncle who is also a headman with a wooden axe handle after a confrontation over their late mother’s belongings that had remained undistributed for twelve years.
The brothers Jacob Chifire (48) and Simon Chifire (56) of Chifire Village appeared before Regional Magistrate Innocent Bepura on November 26, 2025 who remanded them out of custody to December 5 for judgement.
It was the state’s case as presented by Liberty Hove that on September 2, the complainant, Daniel Chifire, visited Jacob’s homestead to notify him of an upcoming village meeting.
Jacob allegedly charged at him and struck him several times with a wooden axe handle for unknown reasons.
In his defense, Jacob told the court that his uncle had confronted him about their late mother’s belongings saying their uncle had no right to collect belongings because they should be handled by the late’s relatives
They argued that verbal exchange quickly turned violent, with Jacob allegedly striking his uncle multiple times with a wooden axe handle.
Simon told the court he rushed to the scene after hearing screams while cutting sticks at his nearby homestead.
Medical reports presented in court revealed that Daniel sustained multiple stab wounds leading to vital-organ damage, along with injuries to his head and right elbow.
The case adds to a rising trend of violent family disputes in the province related to traditional practices and inheritance matters. Last month in Mwenezi, three brothers allegedly murdered their sibling, Takesure Gwezuva, after a disagreement over conducting a bira ceremony.
In another incident earlier this year, a Gutu man, Munyaradzi Kasvina (27), was arrested for attempting to kill his two cousins with an axe following a misunderstanding that stemmed from a funeral.
