Chief Chireya, born Henry Chidzivo, and two police officers have been remanded in custody on murder charges following the alleged killing of a 72-year-old relative in a dispute over chieftainship.
Chidzivo appeared before the Nembudziya Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, joining six co-accused who had appeared in court a day earlier. All seven accused remain in custody.
The other accused are Jethro Dymbura, Chenjerayi Chidzivo, Kelvin Panashe Musariri, Kasiyani Mudyachawaona and Nembudziya-based police officers Moses Sibanda and Agent Chitsinde.
According to the State, the alleged murder occurred on October 13 at around 8.30pm when the accused travelled to the homestead of the deceased, Tapson Jichidza, in an Isuzu double-cab vehicle allegedly driven by Chief Chireya.
Prosecutors told the court that the group was armed with axes, knobkerries, iron bars and wooden sticks, while Chitsinde allegedly carried an official FN service rifle loaded with eight live rounds.
The State alleges that, upon arrival, an accomplice who remains at large switched off the vehicle’s lights before the group surrounded the homestead.
Chitsinde allegedly ordered the occupants to lie on the ground before the group launched the assault.
Dymbura allegedly struck Jichidza on the head with a knobkerrie, while Chenjerayi Chidzivo reportedly threw the elderly man to the ground. Chitsinde is accused of striking him with the butt of his service rifle.
Prosecutors further allege that Chief Chireya ordered the group to kill Jichidza, accusing the elderly relative of having stripped him of his chieftainship.
The court heard that Jichidza lost consciousness during the assault and was subsequently moved to an unfinished building away from his family.
Two other relatives, Brighton and Shelton Jichidza, were also allegedly assaulted during the incident.
According to the State, Shelton later discovered the elderly man’s body in a hut and reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrests of the accused.
The body was taken to Gokwe North District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
The allegations are yet to be tested in court.
