Zaka Chief evicts 80 year old widow

Zaka – An 80 year old MDC supporter from Zaka has been evicted from her home by Acting Chief Nhema of Nhema village in Zaka Masvingo.

Gogo Nyikadzino Muchanyorwa has been evicted from her homestead for voting for the MDC during the 2008 harmonised elections. Gogo Muchanyorwa said since her eviction she has not been able to farm on her fields while her vegetable garden was uprooted last week.

The elderly lady wept on Monday as she narrated her ordeal to MDC newsletter The Changing Times.

“The peak point was when my grandchild died on 23 June this year. I could not give my child a decent burial. No one was allowed to attend the funeral while church people were not allowed to sing, and no drum was made to sound”.

Chief Nhema, whose real name is Ranganayi Mbwawanda, has been labelled as a defiant character who does not uphold even the laws of this country. However, Gogo Muchanyorwa has applied for the courts to make a ruling on the issue and the case will be heard on the 13 July.

A police officer in Zaka, who requested anonymity, said that the chief had a number of police dockets opened against him but he has not appeared in any court.

“People are afraid of him. Most people who come here are MDC supporters who are being victimised by this chief even when the inclusive government is in place” he said.

The Acting chief has even refused the councillor for MDC Ward 10, Clr Julius Miriri, to address the community on council issues. Mr Ranganayi Mbwawanda, known as Chief Nhema, has been in acting capacity since the death of his father in 2003.