Millicent Hungwe
Masvingo Rural-Controversial Chief Murinye born Ephias Munodawafa went berserk in the disputed Boroma Village in Masvingo Rural as he sent mourners scurrying for cover after he fired gun shots as a show of power at a funeral.
The incident happened in Village 33B in Boroma and the Chief seems to be still haunted by the 2022 incident and decided to have revenge two years on, this time leaving mourners in panic mode when he fired a gun at a funeral on the 1st of May 2024 in village 34 Boroma in retaliation.
Information reaching the Mid-week Watch is that on his latest escapades , Chief Murinye in his speech mentioned how he was a bitter man after being assaulted by his subjects not only once but twice, and he took the gesture as being disrespectful behaviour and warned villagers to stop their unruly behaviour forthwith.
During that time he pulled out his gun and fired a shot once in the air, sending mourners everywhere for cover.
One villager Mollen Ngadya, said the villagers are still in a state of shock by the actions of the trigger happy traditional leader.
“He warned the villagers never to attempt assaulting him again or provoke him as he will defend himself regardless of his position as Chief.
“Most people are now living in fear, we might not know what the Chief will do next especially when we try to raise issues which might not like,” she said.
Chief Murinye did not deny or confirm the incident when contacted for comment.
“I will not give a comment on that matter,” said Chief Murinye.
The outspoken traditional leader once clashed with mourners in 2022 and had to run for dear life as he wanted to stop burial of one villager in his area.
Chief Murinye had sparked outrage when he stopped mourners from burying their deceased relative at a place which he regarded as a sacred place.
The Chief alongside 3 ZRP officers who had accompanied him had to make friends with the wind as the angry mourners were baying for their blood.
“The issue is being handled by the Police right now and l have no comment at the moment,” said Chief Murinye.
Masvingo Province Police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa told The Midweek Watch that it is unlawful to fire a gun in the public if unprovoked, but if the Chief was doing in self defence and the gun is licensed, he has no case to answer.
Chairman of the Masvingo provincial Chiefs Council Chief Chitanga born Feleni Chauke defended his colleague and said it is a taboo for subjects to assault their traditional leaders
“It is a taboo to assault an ordained leader, this move shows that Chief Murinye was defending himself.
“He was assaulted because he had built a new cemetery in which the villagers were not in support of, if they had an issue with the Chief they were supposed to report to the nearest Chief to resolve their differences rather than to humiliate their leader,” said Chief Chitanga.
In December 2022 the controversial Chief Murinye, was barred from greeting President Mnangagwa while in traditional garb with a spear in hand.
This happened at the ordaining Ceremony of Great Zimbabwe University Professor Reverend Rungano Jonas Zvobgo as African Reformed Church’s new Bishop at Shonganiso Mission in Masvingo rural.
Chief Murinye is also embroiled in a boundary dispute with Chief Mugabe as he claims the village in which he fired his gun belongs to him.
