Manicaland Province came alive this past week as Culture and Heritage Ambassador, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, brought her vibrant Dare (traditional court) initiative to Chief Mutasa’s homestead. Thousands of villagers thronged the traditional court to witness proceedings, underscoring the strong appetite for dialogue, moral restoration, and healing within communities.
The turnout was so overwhelming that spillover sections had to be created outside the court, where people followed proceedings attentively. The initiative, spearheaded by the First Lady—affectionately known as Mother Zimbabwe—seeks to revive traditional methods of dispute resolution while complementing the formal justice system.
In line with cultural practice, women, including Dr Mnangagwa herself, sat on reed mats while men occupied benches. Chief Mutasa presided over emotionally charged cases ranging from domestic disputes to spiritual matters, many of which had been referred through the First Lady’s toll-free gender-based violence hotline, 575.
Cases of ngozi (avenging spirits), incest, inheritance wrangles, child marriages, witchcraft accusations, and ritual practices were brought before the court. The hearings highlighted how traditional systems remain relevant in resolving conflicts that modern law sometimes struggles to address.
Perhaps the most dramatic moment came when a woman allegedly manifested the spirit of Martin Machika, a man said to have died under mysterious circumstances. The spirit reportedly named those responsible, including a self-styled prophet. The revelation stunned the crowd and moved the First Lady to tears. Chief Mutasa immediately called for police involvement, illustrating the complementary relationship between customary courts and statutory law.
Chief Mutasa reminded attendees that while the courts of law handle tangible crimes, true peace is only achieved when the spiritual world is appeased.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Takes Dare Engagement to Manicaland, Confronts Deep-Rooted Social Ills
Not all proceedings were sombre. Laughter rippled through the gathering when a man accused his wife of using witchcraft to cause erectile dysfunction and bedwetting. Chief Mutasa dismissed the claim, urging the couple to seek medical treatment rather than resort to superstition.
But darker stories soon emerged. A disturbing case involved a 13-year-old girl impregnated by a 15-year-old boy. Instead of reporting the abuse, the girl’s parents forced her into marriage with the minor. Chief Mutasa condemned the arrangement, stressing that both sets of parents had violated the law and betrayed their duty to protect the children.
Another shocking revelation concerned a village head, Victor Manyumwa, who misled the court in a case involving his daughter’s suicide abroad. After evidence proved he had participated in the funeral processes, Chief Mutasa fined him a beast and traditional grain for deceiving the court. He further ruled that, in line with Shona culture, no memorial rituals could be held for suicides, as their spirits cannot be ritually appeased.
The court also heard the case of Prove Chigogo, who had accused his wife, Mufaro Chigwande, of infidelity and denied paternity of their third child. DNA tests later proved him wrong, but he had already evicted her from their shared home and seized property. Chief Mutasa ruled that while couples cannot be forced to remain together, divorce must follow proper cultural customs such as paying gupuro (a divorce token). He reminded families to maintain respect and dignity during marital breakdowns.
On property disputes, the wife was advised to continue pursuing her case through the High Court, while child maintenance issues were referred to the Maintenance Court.
After the proceedings, Dr Mnangagwa thanked villagers for attending in their numbers and acknowledged that she too had drawn lessons from the Dare. She encouraged women to use her toll-free number 575 to seek help, stressing that many of the issues raised in traditional courts overlap with legal matters.
“When someone is murdered, the suspect may be jailed, but families often ask: has the spirit of the deceased truly found justice? These are the issues troubling our communities,” she said, as cries from the crowd marked the emotional weight of her words.
She urged women to uphold morality, warning against promiscuity and its damaging consequences within families. The First Lady also condemned drug and substance abuse, which she said was destroying many young lives.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, praised the First Lady’s humility and respect for tradition. “Mother, you respect our leaders and traditions, showing us the way,” he said.
True to her philanthropic spirit, Dr Mnangagwa donated food hampers to the elderly, people with disabilities, and child-headed families who attended the session.
Through her Dare engagements, the First Lady is breathing new life into cultural systems that once anchored Zimbabwean society. By weaving traditional justice with modern law, she is championing dialogue, accountability, and social cohesion. Her efforts reflect a deep commitment to restoring morality, protecting the vulnerable, and harnessing heritage as a tool for building stronger, more responsible communities.
Source- Herald
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