Chief slaps fine on PM Tsvangirai

Chiweshe’s Chief Negomo, Luscious Chitsinde, yesterday passed a default judgement against Tsvangirai who snubbed the proceedings saying they were illegal and invalid.

“Our hearing went on well, despite the Prime Minister’s decision to disrespect the court by absconding,” Negomo’s assessor Retired Major Cairo Mhandu said.

Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party maintain that he paid damages to the Karimatsenga family on November 18 after Locadia indicated she was pregnant.The Karimatsengas insist he paid lobola.

“Chief Negomo, with the help of his assessor, found the Prime Minister guilty and ordered him to pay two cattle, two sheep and a 10-metre white cloth,” Mhandu said.

“His in-laws were ordered to pay two cattle, two sheep and a goat because they agreed to receive his money during a sacred month. “We gave him 30 days to pay and if he doesn’t, we will send debt collectors after him and attach whatever we can.”

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said Tsvangirai would not pay the fine. “The Prime Minister did not attend because we do not recognise the jurisdiction of that chief,” Mwonzora said.

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“This is a mere political enterprise being spearheaded by Zanu PF and what I can say is that Chief Negomo is not going to get any cattle or any of the things he has asked for.”

Mwonzora said Tsvangirai could have sent his nephew out of courtesy. Tsvangirai’s lawyer Selby Hwacha yesterday maintained the proceedings were invalid.

“A nullity is a nullity,” he said. “We have explained before that this is a nullity and it remains a nullity. You cannot put something on nothing.” Hwacha last week wrote to Chitsinde advising him that their client will not appear before him, arguing the process was illegal.

“From a legal point, Tsvangirai will not appear before your court because the entire process is manifestly illegal and void,” the lawyer said in response to the chief’s summons. “It appears to us that you have not read and or that you do not understand the law, province and your limits as a traditional Chief.”