The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
THE Dube family from Sasane village, Maphisa in Matabeleland South is in turmoil after their son rejected the traditional role of village head, a situation that has left the area without a leader for the past two years.
Welcome Dube (37) has reportedly gone into hiding after he expressed his reservations over the traditional role after he converted to become a Christian.
His family however would have none of it, attempting to force the position on him even resorting to harassing him, threatening him with unknown action if he did not accept the position.
However, according to sources, Dube rejected the position due to his convention to Christianity and also noted the provision that he would also be forced to work and campaign for the ruling Zanu-PF.
Welcome Dube
Village heads perform a variety of legislative, administrative and ceremonial tasks and duties, determined by ancient traditions, as well as by the division of rights and responsibilities village chiefs and the local, regional and national authorities.
Over the years the positions have however been aligned to Zanu-PF which has seen the party openly declaring that village heads and chiefs are expected to support and campaign for the party.
“Welcome in his lineage is the one meant to take up the role of village head in Sasane, however he rejected this because of his belief in Christianity and also was against the provision that he had to support and also campaign for Zanu-PF.
“Now, the holdup is both the family and Zanu-PF are now after him, attempting to force him to accept the position, they have even threatened to arrest him for not honoring this position,” said the family source.
Welcome who attended Sebastian Primary and Secondary School in Maphisa district is said to have confided to close friends that he now feared for his life as his rejection was viewed as an open rejection of the ruling party.
“He told us that at one point they tried to arrest him on trumped up charges and even told him the charges would disappear once he accepted the position. As is he has gone into hiding and we are not sure where he is because he claimed he feared for his life,” said the friend on condition of anonymity.
Investigations by this publication revealed that Dube had crossed the border to neighbouring South Africa to escape the wrath of his relatives but could now be forced to come back to the country with the xenophobic Operation Dudula, which is targeting to rid the neighbouring country of all foreigners.
