By Staff Reporter
ZAKA – Chief Bota born Tafirenyika Bwazvo was recently bashed by angry mourners after he
stormed a funeral allegedly drunk, demanded US$120 in total to authorize the burial, blocked the
road, and hurled vulgar, unprintable insults at women, accusing them of witchcraft.
The confrontation erupted on Tuesday, July 28, evening at the funeral of Lawrence Chitende,
whose body was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday from South Africa, as mourners gathered to
prepare for the burial.
Sources at the funeral, who spoke to TellZim News, said Chief Bota, who was visibly intoxicated
and slurring his words, arrived at the homestead and immediately began making demands.
They alleged that the chief first demanded US$20 to be notified of the funeral, claiming that
tradition required the family to inform him before proceedings could continue.
When the family complied and handed over the money, Bota then allegedly demanded an
additional US$100 to allow them to bury their relative in the family cemetery, which is located
close to the homestead.
He threatened that if the family could not pay, they would be forced to bury the deceased at a
distant community cemetery.
“He demanded 20 dollars to notify him of the funeral, and he was given. He went on to say he
needed 100 more so that he would allow them to bury him at the family cemetery close by.
He said if they don’t have them, then they would give him 30 dollars, and he would allow them
to bury him at the community cemetery, which is a distance away.
“This is even though last year (2025) when the deceased’s sister died, he demanded 30 dollars to
allow them to have their own cemetery, and people thought that was that, but now he was
demanding more,” said the source.
Witnesses further alleged that the chief blocked the road leading to the funeral homestead, which
passes close to his own residence, declaring that no one would attend the funeral unless his
financial demands were met.
In an audio recording that has since circulated widely on social media, Chief Bota is heard
scolding women at the funeral using vulgar and unprintable language, accusing them of
witchcraft.
“Especially that woman with a deep voice, she is the one bewitching people here. She is the one
who killed my uncle; you are here to eat meat, and I am not afraid of you,” Bota said.
He went on to ban singing and drumming at the funeral, despite the deceased being a member of
the Zion Apostolic Church, whose services are traditionally accompanied by drums and singing.
The insults provoked a commotion, with mourners turning on the chief and assaulting him before
he was whisked away by his wife.
Contacted for comment, Chief Bota confirmed he was assaulted but gave a different version of
events. He claimed the attack occurred at his homestead, not at the funeral, and said the deceased
was his mother’s brother, meaning the family should have informed him directly.
“The deceased is my mother’s brother. So they did not tell me about the funeral as per tradition.
When I asked them, I said they had done that because they belittle me since I am their child, so I
asked them to pay a fine of $20, which they failed to do, and I went home to sleep,” said Bota.
He further claimed that he later refused the money when it was sent through an aide, insisting his
demand was only meant to make the family admit their error.
He said the family then sent seven people to his homestead, most of them outsiders from Bikita
and other areas, who attacked him.
When asked about his bodyguards, Bota said his elderly bodyguard was also assaulted and could
only watch as the chief was beaten.
“They send seven people and only one was from the family, and the others were hired. They
assaulted me all over. My bodyguard is old; he was also bashed, and he later watched while I
was being beaten; there was nothing I could do,” said Bota.
Asked about the audio recording that has been widely shared, Chief Bota claimed it was edited
by people who were out to tarnish his name and were after his throne.
“That’s editing; I never scolded anyone or spoke any vulgar. They just want to tarnish my image
because others are after my chieftaincy,” he said.
However, the chief is no stranger to controversy. He has a reputation for being frequently
intoxicated and once caused a commotion at a Zaka RDC full council meeting, demanding that
the local authority grade a road to his homestead.
His subjects have long complained about his behavior, saying it is unbecoming of a traditional
leader.
Sources said the Chitende family had informed the village head, who was supposed to relay the
matter to the chief, though the chief insisted he was never told. He also accused Village Head
Bwazvo, who resides in the same village, of failing to inform him.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a Ministry of Local Government and Public Works
letter dated July 14, 2026, seen by TellZim News, which raised concerns about misconduct by
traditional leaders.
The letter, addressed to the National Council of Chiefs, cited reports of alleged misconduct and
unbecoming conduct by some traditional leaders and warned that such behavior had the potential
to negatively affect public confidence and bring the institution of traditional leadership into
disrepute.
“I wish to bring to your attention concerns that have arisen regarding reports of alleged
misconduct and unbecoming conduct by some traditional leaders, as reported through various
media platforms and submissions received by the Ministry and government,” read part of the
letter.
The Ministry reminded traditional leaders that they are expected to uphold the highest standards
of integrity, fairness, dignity, and professionalism in the execution of their constitutional
mandate.
It also acknowledged that the Ethics and Integrity Committee, which should provide oversight on
traditional leaders’ conduct, has not yet been established due to delays, but urged the Council to
“take appropriate measures to remind and encourage traditional leaders to adhere to the expected
standards.”
“The Ministry is concerned that such allegations, whether substantiated or not, have the potential
to negatively affect public confidence and bring the institution of traditional leadership into
disrepute. As custodians of culture, community values, and the customary justice system,
traditional leaders are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, fairness, dignity, and
professionalism in the execution of their constitutional mandate.” Reads part of the letter.
