Headman in end of year tax storm
‘The money is used to give a token of appreciation to the headman’s assessors. They are about six people. As the headman, perhaps my benefit comes from the small penalties of US$5 that we charge to a person whose phone rings during court proceedings as co
A HEADMAN from Mutasa chieftainship is at loggerheads with village heads over a three-year-old end of year tax regime (mapeta gore), among a myriad of other allegations of self aggrandisement, The Manica Post has learnt.
Headman Sheckington Muponda, who has more than 30 village heads under him, confirmed collecting the annual charge of US$20 per village head recently, which he said has been the norm for the past three years.
However, Headman Muponda denied that the money was meant for the end of year tax regime, as alleged by his village heads, but meant for labour expenses incurred in the traditional Zunde raMambo project.
Headman Muponda said: “I am aware that these allegations are being raised by disgruntled people, chief among them a certain village head who has dragged me to Chief Mutasa’s community court a record 26 times over various issues.
“The same village head alleges that I am the richest headman in the country because of the fines I impose on my subjects. The truth of the matter is that the headman’s institution has to have money to operate the Zunde raMambo Project, and this is the money we collect from the village heads. It is US$20 per village head.
“It is not like the money comes from the village head’s pockets, but they collect it from their subjects. They collect it mainly from villagers who stay a distance from the headman’s Zunde field or those who cannot provide labour for the project.”
Contacted for comment, Chief James Kurauone Mutasa, said: “There is nothing like that (End of year tax/Mapeta gore). It is illegal. The right person to answer that question is the headman himself. I cannot comment on his behalf. I am in the process of investigating the matter. I heard about it, and we are worried about this development. We need to get to the bottom of this rot.”
Acting Manicaland Provincial Director (Local Government Services and Administration), Mr John Misi said: “We cannot conclude that the money is being collected as end of year tax, but if it is true that this money is being collected, it is unheard of.
“The only taxing authority at that level is the local council. The collection of development levy is done by village heads, not the headman. We find it odd that that there is what they call ‘end of year tax’. We have not heard of it. We are surprised.”
The disgruntled village heads, who have since come up with a Headman Trust formed in April last year to make amends or resist some of the irrational levies on their subjects, said Headman Muponda is also charging a goat for any family that wants to distribute the clothes of a deceased family member within a month of that person’s death.
Headman Muponda responded: “These charges (a goat) have always been there. It not like we charge for distributing clothes of a deceased family member, but the norm is that if they want to do it within a month after the demise of a deceased relative, they have to pay US$50 or a goat.
“At times, some people come to me and plead for a reduced fee and we accept. At times, we even allow those that do not have the money to proceed with the ritual without paying anything.”
Mr Misi said: “Payment of a goat to disburse a deceased person’s clothes is largely cultural. Some call it bikiro, here in Manicaland they call it mutete.
“It is a token meant to thank the local traditional leadership. It is allowed unless there is an element of extortion. We cannot out rightly say that the headman is wrong because we are not sure how it is being executed in that area.
“Even if you go to the Constitution on Section 282 (1A) and (B) they are allowed to charge for that service. Complaints might come because there could have been selective application of the regulations. Even under Customary Law, traditional leaders preside over burials where tokens can be given. It then varies from chieftainship to chieftainship.”
Headman Muponda is also being accused of parceling out land to new settlers, some in wetlands.
To that, Mr Misi said: “A headman does not have authority to parcel out communal land as it is State land. This must be done in consultation with the local council. Council has the legal mandate to control development, what we call Development Control according to the Rural District Councils Act.
“Whoever wants to have development in a agricultural or residential area, it has to go through the village assembly, ward assembly up to council for issuance of settlement permit. It is not done by a single person. Worse still, when it comes to wetlands, it is a big no. Procedures are clear and Section 4 of Communal Land Act, Chapter 20:04 is clear on that.”
Bringing a complaint against a fellow villager at Headman Muponda’s court attract a US$15 fee, both for the complainant and the accused persons, a fee that the disgruntled village heads feel is exorbitant.
Headman Muponda said: “We agreed on these fees with the village heads in consultation with the traditional leadership. It used to be around US$2 way back, but with the passage of time I raised it to US$15 as it is my decree to do so.
“The money is used to give a token of appreciation to the headman’s assessors. They are about six people. As the headman, perhaps my benefit comes from the small penalties of US$5 that we charge to a person whose phone rings during court proceedings as contempt of court.”