Traditional and political leaders have called for a quick solution to the unresolved murder case of MDC-T activist Moses Chokuda whose body has been lying in a mortuary in Gokwe for the past two years.
The deceased’s father Tavengwa Chokuda is demanding 15 head of cattle as compensation before burying his son.
He alleges that his son was killed by Farai Machaya, son of Zanu PF Midlands provincial chairman and Midlands governor Jason Machaya, and Edmore Gana, son of Zanu PF Gokwe South district coordinating committee chairman Isaac Gana.
Tavengwa is adamant that his son will fight his own war against those who killed him.
Sekuru Zulu, a member of Zinatha, said it was possible for the deceased to wage a war against the living especially if they are not given a proper burial.
He told NewsDay the case of Moses was not unusual as there were many known cases like his where avenging spirits of people not accorded proper burials have haunted the living until they received proper burials.
“There is need for those who murdered the boy to compensate the father so that finality can be brought to this matter. His spirit will not rest and will return to haunt those who killed him unless his family summons him to rest,” said Sekuru Zulu.
Last year chiefs from the area are understood to have pleaded with President Robert Mugabe to help resolve the matter, saying the case was responsible for the successive draught in the area.
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A top Zanu PF official in Midlands province told NewsDay that the chiefs told Mugabe that since the murder of Chokuda, Gokwe, known for its bumper cotton harvests, was now receiving erratic rains.
“The chiefs wanted the President to assign people to this matter and have it concluded once and for all because they alleged that the murder was bringing bad luck to their land,” said the official who refused to be named.
Deputy Minister of Justice Senator Obert Gutu, told NewsDay that there was no law which could be applied to force the Chokudas to bury their deceased son and negotiating with them was the only solution. He said a pauper’s burial was also not possible.
“I know of no law that compels the relatives of the deceased to bury their loved one because of both the legal and cultural implications. In our culture we know that relatives should bury their own so that their spirits can rest. So in the absence of the relatives, one cannot bury the body. On the other hand, a pauper burial is not likely because the relatives are known and this is a murder case. Paupers’ burials can only take place when the relatives or identity of the deceased are unknown over a reasonable time or in a case where the relatives have failed to bury their own due to poverty,” said Gutu.
Attorney General Johannes Tomana said nothing at law would stop prosecution of any offender if conclusive investigations have been undertaken and suspects are apprehended.
He did not say whether or not the two accused had a trial date set as yet, “Nothing can stop the long arm of the law to get around any criminal if conclusive investigations have been completed and suspects are brought to us. The law will take its course,” said Tomana.
