Upenyu
Chaota
Chaota
Chief Bere, born Phineas Tafirei, has stirred the
hornet’s nest after his subjects, early this week, tried to take over the farm
belonging to former Higher and Tertiary Education minister and late national
hero Stanislaus Mudenge’s 500 hectares farm.
hornet’s nest after his subjects, early this week, tried to take over the farm
belonging to former Higher and Tertiary Education minister and late national
hero Stanislaus Mudenge’s 500 hectares farm.
Mudenge’s farm is now being managed by his daughter
Rumbidzai who is said to have sought help from Chief Charumbira and the
Masvingo provincial Joint Operations Command (JOC) to force Chief Bere’s people
out of the farm and allow negotiations to take place.
Rumbidzai who is said to have sought help from Chief Charumbira and the
Masvingo provincial Joint Operations Command (JOC) to force Chief Bere’s people
out of the farm and allow negotiations to take place.
Chief Bere was installed in April this year after a
fierce battle with the Charumbira clan over boundary demarcations.
fierce battle with the Charumbira clan over boundary demarcations.
It is said that a group of 16 people who claimed to
have been armed with a blessing from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is
related to Chief Bere, stormed the property saying they wanted their chief to
take over the farm.
have been armed with a blessing from President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is
related to Chief Bere, stormed the property saying they wanted their chief to
take over the farm.
Rumbidzai told TellZim News that she did not want the
matter to go public before saying that the matter was minor and had been
resolved.
matter to go public before saying that the matter was minor and had been
resolved.
“You want to do a story about it? I prefer to keep the
matter private so I am not going to comment,” said Rumbidzai.
matter private so I am not going to comment,” said Rumbidzai.
When pressed further, she said she had a minor dispute
with her neighbour over water and the issue had been resolved.
with her neighbour over water and the issue had been resolved.
“It was just a water dispute with my neighbour but it
has been resolved. You can come to my farm and see for yourself,” said
Rumbidzai.
has been resolved. You can come to my farm and see for yourself,” said
Rumbidzai.
It is said that JOC and Chief Charumbira managed to
intervene and Chief Bere’s people were told to leave the farm until the
negotiations were completed.
intervene and Chief Bere’s people were told to leave the farm until the
negotiations were completed.
When Chief Bere was installed, his territory took a
huge chunk from Chief Charumbira’s territory and it has been a turf war ever since.
huge chunk from Chief Charumbira’s territory and it has been a turf war ever since.
Prior to his installation, Chief Bere had been staying in Zaka.
His spokesperon David Jani Masomere said Chief Bere had a right to choose where
he wanted to stay in his chieftaincy.
he wanted to stay in his chieftaincy.
“Chief Bere currently rents a single room in Victoria
Ranch and this Mudenge farm you are talking about is in our area and the chief
chose to stay there.
Ranch and this Mudenge farm you are talking about is in our area and the chief
chose to stay there.
“We do not want to chase away the current occupant but
we are saying let us share the land because it is too big for one person. The
chief will take half and the Mudenges will take the other half.
we are saying let us share the land because it is too big for one person. The
chief will take half and the Mudenges will take the other half.
“We have been knocking on doors for this arrangement
to be approved but we realised that we were not being taken seriously that is
why we decided to go to the farm and camp there.
to be approved but we realised that we were not being taken seriously that is
why we decided to go to the farm and camp there.
“We are law-abiding people and we obeyed when we were
told by JOC to hold our guns and give room for negotiations. We are going to
negotiate but we want a part of that farm,” said Masomere.
told by JOC to hold our guns and give room for negotiations. We are going to
negotiate but we want a part of that farm,” said Masomere.
