13/10/2025
50-Year Murder Dispute Returns to Chief Makoni’s Court as Family Demands Justice and Compensation.
By Tafadzwa Muswehaurari (Nhimbe FM Correspondent - Makoni)
A decades-old murder case resurfaced before Chief Makoni’s traditional court last week as the Chigodo family confronted the Mugura family over the death of their relative, the late Mathew Chigodo.
The dispute, which traces back to the 1970s, involves a confessed killing, an unsettled avenging spirit, and compensation that remains unpaid nearly nine years after an agreement was made.
Speaking before the court, Aaron Chigodo, representing his family, said that in 2016, a member of the Mugura family arrived at their homestead with a grandchild and confessed to Mathew’s killing. Aaron said he demanded the return of his father’s head, which the Muguras promised to retrieve, but internal conflicts within their family prevented progress, eventually pushing the matter back into the traditional court system.
Chief Makoni reminded the court that during the 2016 proceedings, the Mugura family had agreed to pay 15 cows, US$5,000 allegedly taken from the deceased, one chicken, and a goat as compensation. However, according to the Chigodo family, nothing has been delivered to date.
Recounting the events that led to his father’s death, Aaron said the tragedy began in 1975, when Mathew visited the Mugura homestead to buy a goat for a celebration. Disagreements broke out after the hosts refused to hand over the animal. During a heated drinking session, Mugura allegedly struck Mathew in the ribs. Although Mathew received treatment, Aaron claimed that witchcraft was later used against him, causing him to fall off a bicycle and die. The Mugura family, he added, only confessed decades later.
When asked to respond, Erene Mugura admitted that most of Aaron’s account was accurate but said he was not present when the incident occurred. He also claimed to have no knowledge of the 2016 proceedings involving the avenging spirit.
Rosemary Mugura, however, confirmed the confession and revealed that the late Mathew had been their son-in-law. She told the court that Mathew’s spirit had been haunting their family with misfortunes, which led them to seek help from the court and later from a spiritual guide who prescribed the compensation.
Rosemary said they were instructed to return home and agree on how to gather the compensation items, but internal family disputes halted progress. Another family member, Stella Mugura, said she had tried to organize contributions, but her relatives ignored her efforts. She had proposed collecting the livestock and money gradually, a suggestion Chief Makoni rejected, insisting that an avenging spirit must be appeased fully and at once.
In his ruling, Chief Makoni condemned the Mugura family’s inaction, saying their long neglect of the avenging spirit was the cause of the deaths and misfortunes they had reportedly suffered. He gave the family two weeks to meet, agree, and return with a concrete plan for full compensation.
“If you remain ignorant, more deaths will come,” warned Chief Makoni, calling for closure to a case that has haunted both families for nearly half a century.
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