Mukando treasurer vanishes with cash, club members in distress

MEMBERS of a women’s savings group in Mutasa have clashed with their treasurer’s husband, accusing him of issuing life-threatening remarks after his wife failed to account for part of the club’s funds.

The dispute, which has now escalated to Chief Mutasa’s community court, allegedly took a tragic twist following the sudden death of the group’s vice-chairperson.

At the heart of the matter are tensions within a 30-year-old Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) club, run by elderly women in the area. The women allege that their treasurer, Evess Dzirutwe, disappeared with US$400 belonging to the group, and further accuse her husband, Nelson Dzirutwe, of intimidating them when they demanded accountability.

ISAL chairwoman, Mbuya Marian Dzirutwe, who is Nelson’s sister-in-law, told the court that the fallout has fractured family ties.

“We had an ISAL club that is now 30 years old. I am 73, and we thought this club was our children’s legacy. We had both local currency and US$ savings. Evess joined as treasurer and was entrusted with our money. She had US$400, but when we asked for it, she gave excuses and failed to return it,” she said.

Mbuya Dzirutwe said Evess later returned accompanied by her husband, and that is when the situation turned hostile.

“She came back with Nelson, who became violent and told us not to ask her for our money. He said she was under his control and we could do nothing. He then took her away,” she testified.

Two weeks later, Nelson allegedly summoned the club’s committee to his home, claiming his wife was unavailable.

“When we arrived, his wife was not there. He said he was standing in for her and even stopped her from attending this court session. He claims we want to bewitch and kill his wife. He is my brother-in-law, but because of this, we are no longer on good terms,” said Mbuya Dzirutwe.

The allegations deepened when the club produced a message they claim Nelson sent to them — which they claimed carried threats of misfortune.

“He texted us demanding some money that he claimed we had. In the text message, he said that if we do not give him back that money, we will encounter something mysterious, and that we should not ask him. Shockingly, our vice chairperson died, and as we speak, her body is lying in the mortuary. We do not know what happened. I am very angry because one of us is in the mortuary as we speak,” said Mbuya Dzirutwe angrily.

She said instead of resolving the issue, Nelson escalated it further.

“After that, he sued us before the civil courts,” she said.

Nelson, however, denied sending any threatening messages, and insisted that the allegations were fabrications.

“I never texted that message. As we speak, my wife is bed-ridden, and that is why she is not here. I never texted that threatening message to them. My wife did not steal the said money. This matter is already before the courts. Also, if my wife is a member of that club, I am an automatic member. My wife is one of the founding members of the club. And this woman, Marian is a big liar — she has been lying for years. She is my brother’s wife,” he said.

However, when the women produced the alleged threatening message in court, Nelson reportedly shifted his stance, arguing he had every reason to send it — a contradiction that raised eyebrows in the courtroom.

Chief Mutasa took time to review the ISAL club’s constitution, and his findings did not align with Nelson’s claims.

He ruled that the club is strictly a women’s organisation, whose membership is defined clearly by its constitution, and that no spouse automatically qualifies as a member by marriage.

“Your involvement in this case is shocking because you are not a member and you are a male. It is only the club members that know the constitution and the code of conduct. To me, you are improperly before this court. It should be your wife, a member of this club, who should be here today,” said Chief Mutasa.

He further directed Nelson to bring his wife to court so that she could answer to the allegations herself, saying the matter could not proceed without her.

The case was adjourned to December 6, to allow for Evess to be summoned to appear before the traditional court.

ManicaPost