Rumbidzai Rudita
Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A
woman was recently hauled before Chief Chitanga’s court where she was fined a
cow for allegedly conspiring with a friend to take soil from a grave at her
neighbour’s homestead for use at church as had been instructed by a so-called
prophet.
woman was recently hauled before Chief Chitanga’s court where she was fined a
cow for allegedly conspiring with a friend to take soil from a grave at her
neighbour’s homestead for use at church as had been instructed by a so-called
prophet.
Rumbidzai
Rudita of Helani village under Chief Chitanga is, however, disputing the
verdict and has launched an appeal at the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court.
Rudita of Helani village under Chief Chitanga is, however, disputing the
verdict and has launched an appeal at the Mwenezi Magistrates’ Court.
She
argues that she was wrongly convicted because it was only her friend Olipa who
took the soil on her own as had been instructed by the self-styled prophet.
argues that she was wrongly convicted because it was only her friend Olipa who
took the soil on her own as had been instructed by the self-styled prophet.
“One
day my friend Olipa, who works at Livison Magweva’s homestead, and I went to
church (Masowe) at Lundi where Madzibaba had a revelation on Olipa. He called
me closer so that I could also hear what he wanted Olipa to do. He told her to
go take some soil from the graveyard at the homestead where she works.
day my friend Olipa, who works at Livison Magweva’s homestead, and I went to
church (Masowe) at Lundi where Madzibaba had a revelation on Olipa. He called
me closer so that I could also hear what he wanted Olipa to do. He told her to
go take some soil from the graveyard at the homestead where she works.
“I
was therefore shocked to be implicated in all this. Olipa went alone and took
the soil from the grave and I was nowhere near that.
was therefore shocked to be implicated in all this. Olipa went alone and took
the soil from the grave and I was nowhere near that.
“Yes,
I was there when she was given the instruction by the prophet but I was not
there when she went and collected the soil. I have therefore filed papers at
the higher court to appeal the conviction and judgement,” said Rudita.
I was there when she was given the instruction by the prophet but I was not
there when she went and collected the soil. I have therefore filed papers at
the higher court to appeal the conviction and judgement,” said Rudita.
No
comment could be obtained from Chief Chitanga as his phone was not reachable by
the time of going to print.
comment could be obtained from Chief Chitanga as his phone was not reachable by
the time of going to print.
Under
Zimbabwean law, it is illegal to temper or desecrate a grave or tomb where the
dead have been buried.
Zimbabwean law, it is illegal to temper or desecrate a grave or tomb where the
dead have been buried.