A dark cloud hang over Tsikirai Village under Chief
Nyamandi in Gutu yesterday when an 80-year-old man committed suicide after
being allegedly assaulted and tortured by a local self-styled prophet.
Solomon Mungofa was found hanging from a mango tree in his
backyard yesterday morning when he was due to return to the court of the
self-styled prophet Showen Zinge popularly known as Tsikamutanda to surrender
his alleged tools of trade.
Witchcraft accusations are outlawed in Zimbabwe.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula
told The Mirror that she was yet to get the report.
The deceased’s nephew Kingsley Tinarwo confirmed the
suicide. He disputed allegations that his uncle was assaulted or tortured by
Zinge and he told The Mirror that the late voluntarily confessed to witchcraft.
Patrick Chagwiza who is Chief Nyamandi said he was waiting
for a report from his headman before he took action. He said he heard that the
man died over issues to do with a prophet.
Sources said the deceased’s relatives pressured him to
visit Zinge’s court at Rasha Shrine where he was allegedly assaulted and pushed
into thorns to pressure him into admitting to witchcraft.
Zinge accused Mungofa of bewitching his two
grandchildren. When contacted for comment Zinge said the deceased freely
confessed to witchcraft and undertook to go back home and bring his artifacts
to the prophet.
Zinge disputed allegations that he shoved the late into
thorns and assaulted him.
Sources said Mungofa committed suicide because he shuddered
at the idea of going back to Zinge’s court where he feared to go through the
same ordeal that he went through.
Tinarwo said his uncle handed over some of his juju
artifacts to Zinge at the court. Masvingo Mirror.
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