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Justice finally prevails to the Chokuda family
Heal Zimbabwe
Trust
October 25, 2011
'The
burial of my son today, three years after his death should be a
warning to perpetrators of political violence that one day they
will face the full wrath of the law as no one is above the law . . . "
Mr.Tawengwa
Chokuda speaking at the burial of his son, Moses who was killed
by ZANU PF activists after an altercation in March 2009
In what can
be recorded as the most controversial murder case in Zimbabwe's
political history, the body of Moses Chokuda who was beaten to death
by ZANU PF activists in 2009 under unclear circumstances was finally
laid to rest in his village Chipere in Gokwe on Saturday, 23 October
2011. It is reported that Moses Chokuda an MDC activist who was
working for Mr. Jason Machaya, the Midlands Governor was murdered
after he exposed a corruption case involving the Machaya family
and food stuffs meant for relief during the economic recovery period
of 2009.
Hundreds of
people came to witness the burial of Mr. Chokuda who had spend three
years in mortuary after his family refused to bury him until the
Machaya family compensated them with 20 head of cattle and $15 000.
Part of those who attended were Heal Zimbabwe staff, The Minister
for Finance, Hon Tendai Biti, the Governor for Midlands, Hon Machaya,
Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, journalists, family
and friends of Moses Chokuda. After the death of Moses, his family
reported the case to the police but no arrests were made until this
year in September where the four accomplices, Farai Machaya, Abel
Maphosa, Edmore Gana and Bothwell Gana were brought before the court
of law facing murder charges and were sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.
If that was not enough, the Chokuda family demanded compensation
in the form of cattle and $15 000 as per the Shona tradition. At
first the Machaya family did not take the demands seriously but
after reports of mysteries happening in their family they decided
to settle the dispute once and for all.
Chief Njelele
had to intervene during the negotiations which lightened the tension
between the two families. The Chokuda case is a warning and lesson
to those who have committed crimes during the political violence
period that it may take months or years but one-day justice will
take its course.
The Chokuda
case is a good example of how the process of national healing in
Zimbabwe should be implemented. Reconciliation only takes place
when the truth has been established and justice has been given due
regard. In a country where political position translates to immunity
from the law, the persistent consistency of the Chokuda family in
seeking justice in spite of the challenges they faced is encouraging.
Heal Zimbabwe urges traditional leaders to emulate the role played
by Chief Njelele in resolving the conflict. Of late, traditional
leaders have been blamed for spearheading political conflicts in
many rural areas. It is imperative for the traditional leaders to
resort to their founding principles of conflict resolution, peace
building as this will contribute a lot to peace and stability in
their respective areas.
Moses
Chokuda
He was born
in 1974 and was an active member of MDC together with his father.
The deceased was married and left behind a wife and one child. Moses
Chokuda was murdered on 22 March 2009 by Farai Machaya, Abel Maphosa,
Edmore Gana and Bothwell Gana in Gokwe.
The four had
enlisted the services of two soldiers to intimidate Chokuda, but
this did not work and they decided to take the law into their own
hands where they assaulted him using logs and booted feet, leaving
him for dead. An autopsy report prepared for the court revealed
that Chokuda died from fractures on his cervical spine. He had sustained
several injuries all over his body. He was buried after three years
in his rural area in Gokwe.
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Zimbabwe fact
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