Part of a house belonging to the traditional leader of Ha-Misevhe in the Masia area was damaged extensively in an arson attack over the weekend.
Unknown people broke his burglar door and entered his sitting room, where they burnt chairs, sofas and books.
Chief Misevhe Mulaudzi (72) of Ha-Misevhe, an area which is highly disputed by the Vhangona and the Masia people, said he and his family were attending the funeral of a relative when unknown people broke into and burnt his house. Only the housekeeper, Mr Morris Khanyi, was at home at the time of the attack.
Khanyi, who witnessed the incident, said he heard noises and when he looked through the window, he saw four people going to the other side of the house and later saw that the house was on fire. "It was around two in the morning and I could not figure out who they were, as it was dark. I was peeping through the window and I was dead scared, thinking that they would come for me," said Khanyi.
Chief Mulaudzi said he was not cowed by the burning as he knew why they had decided to burn his house. "I am a traditional leader here, put by the Masia royal house to look after the people, and I won't shy away from the responsiblity entrusted to me by Thovhele Nthumeni Masia. I am in charge of my people here and have to serve their interests," said Mulaudzi.
Recounting the events leading to the burning of his propperty, Mulaudzi said they had woken up the previous morning to find that all the streets had been barricaded by stones "put by faceless people". He added that there was a serious land dispute. "This area belongs to Thovhele Nthumeni Masia, but there are members of the Vhangona tribe who have a big interest in this area and are disputing this fact,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi said a march had been planned for last week by his people to confirm that the land belongs to the Masia people, but it could not take place as the MEC who was to receive a memorandum was not available. "We have postponed this to the 17th of this month and we are not surprised this is happening. We are a peaceful people and we will not attack them but do our things the legal way, and we know the law will declare who the rightful owners of this land are, " said Mulaudzi.
The senior traditional leader of the whole area, Thovhele Nthumeni Masia, said it was true that there were people who were trying to undermine his authority. He added that there was a serious invasion of his land by "faceless leaders".
He also mentioned the march that will take place today (Friday). "It will be a peaceful march against this land invasion and we are going to hand over a memorandum to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs at Cogsta’s regional offices in Vuwani.”
Vuwani police spokesperson warrant officer Elijah Malatji said they had no record of the arson incident as it had not been reported to them.
