Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A group of about 40 men broke into the bedroom of a 64-year-old man whom they manhandled, severely bashed and forced to join their circumcision camp, the Mwenezi Magistrates Court heard last week.
It was also heard that the gang destroyed property worth US$1 872 in the process.
The State, however, found reasonable grounds to charge only Chenjerai Chivarange (38), of Chiwarure village two under Chief Maranda, for malicious damage to property but he pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrate Honest Musiiwa.
Giving his side of the story in court, the complainant, Lysias Hlaisi of the same village said Chivarange stormed his place in the company of about 40 men.
“Vakauya pamba pangu varikuma 40. Gumi vandinonyatsokuziva ndivo vaindirova uye ndivo vandaka reporter kumapurisa…ndakarobweswa apa vaiva vakandibatirana vamwe vachindidhonza-dhonza zvombo zvangu. Mushure mokundirova uye mokuputsa property yangu vakaenda neni kumurundu (circumcision school).
“Ndakanochekwa ikoko haaa manje mubedroom hazvichaendeki futi. Ndakatozoita zvokutiza ndisati ndapedza course ndokupona kwandakaita. Chakazondirwadza futi ndochokuti ndiri ku murundu iko, sezvo Chivarange aive umwe wamacommander aipota achidzoka kumba kwangu achitorana futi nemukadzi wangu. Mhosva akamboitenda pakutanga akandiripa mombe mbiri asi gare gare akadzoka otora futi mombe dziya,” Hlaisi said.
Appearing for the State, Willard Chasi told the court that one day in September 2010 at around 17:00 hrs, Chivarange arrived at Hlaisi’s homestead with about 20 men, not 40 as was claimed by the complainant.
They wanted to take Hlaisi to a male circumcision camp at Tundunyi Mountain but Hlaisi locked himself into his bedroom hut and refused to open when the group arrived.
Chivarange allegedly took an axe that was on the yard and broke Hlaisi’s bedroom door into three pieces.
He entered the bedroom and went on rampage destroying property worth US$1 872. Some of the property that was destroyed include solar panels, a bed, set of cups and radios.
A police report was made leading to Chivarange’s arrest. The trial was due to continue by the time of going to print.local
