Hungry Masvingo Villagers Assault Their Chief
12/12/2010 11:20:00
MASVINGO, December 12, 2010 – Hunger stricken villagers from ward 13 in
Masvingo South constituency on Saturday teamed up and severely assaulted
their chief Ephias Murinye who had instructed aid agency Care International
to stop giving food hand-outs to people in the area.
Murinye who arrived at Chikarudzo business center where thousands of
villagers were receiving food aid from the donor agency clad in his
traditional regalia ordered an immediate stop for the distribution of food
in his area ‘until certain issues are ironed out’.
However, Murinye was not allowed to finish his speech as hungry villagers
started assaulting him before he rushed to his Mazda B18 truck and drove
off.Murinye refused to speak to RadioVop saying ‘whatever happened had
completely nothing to do with the press’.
“You are a journalist not a traditional leader, what kind of a solution do
you want to give us? Its better you concentrate on other things rather than
keep phoning for issues which do not have anything to do with you,” said
Murinye.
However, villagers said they were tired of traditional leaders who chase
away donors leaving them without anyone to help them with relief food.
“We wanted to receive food as usual but unfortunately the chief felt that
some protocols were not being observed and then came to order an immediate
stop of the food distribution. His order did not go well with hungry
villagers who teamed up and asked Murinye to sit down but as he refused to
sit down, some men ganged up and started to beat him,” said a villager who
refused to be named.Officials from Care International who were at Chikarudzo
business center said they were too junior to speak to the press.