Maria David
A COUPLE was left homeless after their house was emptied of its contents and demolished by members of their family following a fight over a piece of land.
Joseph Tonata completed building his house in 2017 and in 2018 it was fully packed with furniture, but earlier in 2019 the house was found empty and damaged.
The couple has now opened a case of malicious damage to property against some of their family members after the fence they erected to protect their crops from animals was also removed and damaged.
Narrating details of the incident, Joseph’s wife, said her husband and sister-in-law, Victoria Tonata went through the headman before embarking on the division of the land.
However, with development catching up it is alleged that Victoria now claims she didn’t give any piece of land with trees to the siblings, nor can the land be given to her brother as he was a war veteran and does not deserve any portion of land.
Joseph’s wife revealed that they haven’t ploughed last year. When they decided to plough and plant this year when, a fence was erected to protect the crops and ensure they cut off their portion of land, but they found the fence removed and damaged.
The Enkono village headman, Alfeus Mungonena said they are aware of the ongoing feud between the siblings and visited the house with the police on Wednesday after the fence was damaged.
Mungonena stated that Victoria fails to understand the meaning of leading others when given the upper hands by their elders.
However, the matter has now escalated to them opening cases against each other.
“We want to direct them as traditional leaders and in a matter of time we will invite them as traditional authority for engagement,” he said.
Mungonena explained that when people want to share a piece of land, first people come at traditional leaders explaining that one is to give a piece of land to another and if there is no misunderstanding and hiccups a 100% green light is given.
However, when there is trouble, that is when traditional leaders get involved in the matter and come inspect the land and see how land is given and if it was fair.
In this case, Mungonena stated the two siblings were both in agreement, and what causes the matter to get to this point is yet to be uncovered.
