A FORMER traditional leader has lost a vehicle and household property after it was confiscated for sale to recover more than US$10 000, which he owes to several villagers, whom he ill-treated through abusing his power and arbitrarily depriving them of their belongings.
Mike Patyavazungu, a resident of Gokwe in Midlands province, who served as Chief Nemangwe until his dethronement early last year, recently had his white Toyota double cab vehicle and some household property, which included sofas, coffee table, kitchen table, chairs, television set, television stand, kitchen unit, wardrobe and a bed, attached by the Messenger of Court.
Patyavazungu was sued by the villagers in October 2023 for damages amounting to more than US$10 000 by the rural dwellers, who demanded payment and compensation for their livestock, which included cattle and goats, which was confiscated by Patyavazungu during the time that he reigned as Chief Nemangwe.
The villagers, who include Sherpherd Chiwome, Musafare Takaedza, Tongai Makombe, Fanny Gora, Sammy Kujacha, Joshua Makombe, were represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who assisted them to sue Patyavazungu.
During his tenure as Chief Nemangwe, Patyavazungu and his aides descended on some villagers’ homesteads and grabbed cattle, goats and some farming implements after having presided over community court sessions, where he convicted them for committing various offences including alleging that they had committed incest, a charge which they denied.
At one time Patyavazungu together with his aides resorted to self-help by seizing some cattle belonging to a villager on the pretext that he owed some family outstanding lobola payments.
However, he was ordered to return the villager’s cattle within twenty-four hours.
ENDS
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