Zanu-PF Governor pays MDC family for murdered son

MIDLANDS Governor Jason Machaya has agreed to pay 35 cattle and $15 000 cash demanded by the Chokuda family as compensation for the murder of Moses Chokuda by his son, Farai, and three accomplices.

Machaya said he had by yesterday paid 20 cattle and $15 000 cash.

He promised to hand over the remaining 15 beasts to the family by the end of this week or early next week.

"We met the Chokuda family and have already given them 20 head of cattle as well as the $15 000 cash they asked for," said Machaya.

"They had made higher demands, but our chief, Chief Njelele intervened. The remaining cattle will be handed over anytime soon.

"I could have surrendered them with the others yesterday, but the beasts are in an area infected by foot and mouth and are not allowed to be moved out by the Veterinary Services Department."

The Governor said he decided to take full responsibility of paying the compensation to the Chokudas despite the fact that his son had committed the crime with three other accomplices.

"The other boys got involved in this case because they wanted to assist my son, Farai," said Machaya. "It is only proper that as the Machaya family we take full responsibility in compensating the Chokudas over the murder of their son. The Chokuda family agreed to the arrangement."

Machaya's son, Farai and three accomplices - Abel Maposa and the Gana brothers, Edmore and Bothwell - murdered Moses in March 2009 over suspicions that he together with Isheunesu Sibanda and Leeroy Ndokwana had broken into Farai Machaya's shop, Green Diamond Supermarket.

The four were found guilty of murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison each by High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi.

Chief Njelele said Moses Chokuda's body will finally be burried on Saturday at his parents' rural home in Chipere Village, more than two years after his death.

At one time, Chief Njelele said the Chokuda family demanded 70 herd of cattle and a young woman as part of the compensation.

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