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Herald Reporter
Scores of people are gathered at the base of Mt Nyangani to assist in the search of a tourist who went missing last Saturday while hiking with his wife and friends.
Yesterday, a local chief and the family of the missing man fended off claims that the traditional leader demanded US$21 000 to assist in the search.

Zayd Dada (31), his wife Neelam, and another couple tried to climb Mt Nyangani but halfway up the other three gave up while he proceeded alone.

According to a source, the search parties were ordered not to relay information to the media.
Yesterday morning, Zayd’s older brother, Rayaaz Dada, posted on the Facebook page “Let’s find Zayd” denying that the family was ordered to pay US$21 000 to Chief Saunyama to help find the missing man.

“No such incident had occurred and the chief, local people, Government and local authorities had been extremely helpful and supportive,” he said.

“The chief has been really helpful and has never asked us for money – this is just not true and we have no idea where this came from,” said Raayaz before referring all questions to family spokeswoman and aunt Ms Shehnilla Mohamed.

Ms Mohamed said the family remained hopeful that Dada would be found alive.
“The chief and elders conducted rituals and everything went well and they are helping in the search. We have put the search on hold today (yesterday) because of the bad weather and it is making it difficult for the helicopter to go up.

A person close to the family told The Herald that someone close to Chief Saunyama had demanded US$1 000 to help in the search, and US$20 000 to be paid on finding Dada alive.

Last night Chief Saunyama said: “Around Monday while I was on my way to Harare, I was called and told that a tourist had gone missing on the mountain. I informed them that I was near Macheke and could not turn back and so I directed them to a headman who could assist. After about two days I was told that the man had not yet been found.

“I was in Harare the whole time and right now I am in Hurungwe. I would also like to know where these rumours are coming from.”
It has been suggested that the claim was started by someone out to tarnish the chief’s reputation.