The BaTonga traditional Dispute resolution in Tonga communities: Lessons from Lusulu community

Abstract

The article explores traditional perceptions of dispute resolution practices and strategies in resolving conflicts amongst the BaTonga communities in Binga which is in the north-western part of Zimbabwe. The paper follows a realization that the BaTonga community has an interesting dispute resolution mechanism which is predicated on the idea of African finding solutions to their problems in Africa’s wisdom.  The study on Zimbabwe endogenous conflict resolution mechanisms has received scant attention. The nature of disputes within the BaTonga community emanate mainly from resources competition characterized by competition over grazing lands during summer season, water scarcity, community boundary conflicts on farm lands, conflicts over, migration, power disputes arising from succession disputes, gender violence cases, promiscuity, common crimes like murder, theft inter alia. The study observes that BaTonga people have unique mechanisms of solving conflicts predicated upon the values of community integration and oneness. Conflicts resolution in BaTonga community values the wisdom and long lived expertise of the respected elderly people.  The study is qualitative in nature supported by key informant interviews such as traditional chiefs and elders and deploys in a broad sense of ubuntu philosophy as a theoretical framework. The methodological section of this paper was drawn from Lusulu area under Chief Sinamamgonde. The paper unpacks how BaTonga dispute resolution mechanisms protect women and help in strengthening family-community relations. It is observed that community is determined to use its endogenous methods of resolution despite the fact that this has been under threat and assault from globalization and modernization which to some extent has contributed to them losing faith in their dispute resolutions mechanism.

Key words: dispute resolution, Resource scarcity, BaTonga, Ubuntu philosophy