AN inyanga from Insuza, Matabeleland North Province, has
been arrested after he allegedly raped an 18-year-old client, claiming to be
cleansing her of evil spirits.
The traditional healer, whose name is being withheld to
protect the identity of the victim as they are of the same village, is alleged
to have told the teenager that she was troubled spiritually and that she had to
be given herbs and also had to be intimate with him, to be fully healed.
He allegedly lured her into his hut where he raped her and
said she would be healed, only if she kept the sex attack a secret. National
police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“We are investigating a matter where an 18-year-old woman
was raped by an inyanga whom she had visited to consult. She was taken into a
hut where she was raped. The matter came to light when she confided in a friend
about the ordeal, who advised her that she must report the matter to the police.
They then proceeded to a police station where a rape report was filed,” said
Asst Comm Nyathi.
Asst Comm Nyathi warned traditional healers who take
advantage of helpless women who approach them for help, saying they would be
arrested.
“We warn traditional healers that they must not take
advantage of their positions to commit crimes and violate those who approach
them with faith and trust in the services they offer.
“We also warn women that they must never be too trusting of
strangers, even people that they know. Where possible they must visit these
traditional healers in the company of people that they trust. It is always
better to be with a friend, for privacy one may consult alone but have someone
close in case something goes wrong.
“We cannot continue to have such violations in society. We
also encourage people to report such cases so that all perpetrators of such
crimes are removed from society before hurting more people,” said Asst Comm
Nyathi. Chronicle
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