Two heads of sheep for insulting village head 

Chegutu Bureau Chief

A man from Mhondoro-Ngezi got himself into trouble by insulting a village head and has to part with two heads of sheep, to pay for his transgression.

Forward Manzunzu, who had been summoned to appear at Chief Ngezi-Mupamombe`s court, received a default judgment.

Presiding officer George Murungweni found Forward guilty of denigrating the person and office of a village head, which is protected under the laws of the country.

It is the court`s case that sometime last year, the village head, Emmanuel Ngureze went to Forward`s homestead to settle a dispute. It is then that the offence was committed.

The culprit was ordered to appear before Chief Ngezi-Mupamombe born, Peter Pasipamire.

The accused person is said to have insulted village head Ngureze after the latter had gone to pacify in a case involving accused`s adult younger brother (name withheld), who had offended his father-in-law.

Forward is said to have uttered unprintable words towards the village head when the respectable man was on his way back, with Sebastien Dhuve.

That did not go down well with Ngureze who went on to report his matter at Paramount, Chief Ngezi-Mupamombe`s court.

"I had gone to pacify his younger brother at their homestead. When we had finished the process, about a kilometre from the residence, I heard a phone call from Forward Manzunzu. He started insulting me from an environment that seemed like he was in a bar.

"He said, `I`m Forward Manzunzu. I stay at Dzingainhamo co-operative. My younger brother will never pay for that offence. He doesn`t pay for that s...t.`"

"I was so incensed that I wanted to reply to that insult over the phone but, my colleague Dhuve, whom I was with refrained me."

The head continued, "When we met with Forward he admitted to the offence and offered to pay with a chicken. I told him to go and inform all those who were present when he belittled me. I then advised him to peruse the summon that I delivered on the matter to his homestead. That subpoena was signed by his mother. From then on, he is nowhere near the village," village head Ngureze told the court.

Murungweni advised Ngureze, "Bring to us your judgments and write a reminder for him to pay the demands by a specified date. He can never pay with a chicken for insulting you. He should bring two heads of sheep to pay for that offence.

"You should have submitted today the sentence that you handed down and we use that to come up with our judgment. We attach that document to ours as the chief`s court."

The younger brother, who originally was the accused, is complying while Forward is the one proving to be difficult.

"If he refuses, you can come again and we sign the LC form," Murungweni ruled.