Some 50 villagers from Dzevhu Village under Chief
Nyakunhuwa in Zaka are fuming after their village head Christopher Dzevhu took
them to a witch hunter to find out who among them caused the illness of
Dzevhu’s wife.
The incident happened last Monday and all villagers
converged at the shrine of a local self-styled prophet Taguta Jairai at the
risk of contracting Corona Virus.
The chief’s wife was allegedly in a trance after she was
attacked by goblins.
Villagers who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity
said that the ceremony which was conducted by the prophet who is also a
relative of the village head was a guise to humiliate certain villagers.
Dzevhu’s nephew also called Christopher Dzevhu confirmed
the ceremony and insisted that villagers came for the rituals without being
coerced. He said that the prophet named the witches and the sick woman got well
soon afterwards.
Acting Chief Nyakunhuwa, Courage Marasha said he was not
aware of the incident but promised to punish Dzevhu if investigations proved
that the incident happened.
Marasha said it was unlawful to force people to a witch
hunt and he complained that the gathering could see some people contracting
Covid-19.
“I know the village head in question but I am not aware of
the incident. Gathering people in this pandemic endangers people`s lives.
Taking a whole village to a prophet is totally unacceptable,” said Chief
Nyakunhuwa.
“We are not happy with what Dzevhu did to us. Instead of
going to hospital, the village head forced everyone in the village to go to
Jairai`s place claiming that his first wife Juliet Chitekero was bewitched.
Illnesses should be attended to at hospital. What if she is infected with the
coronavirus?” asked one villager.
“No-one was forced; the ceremony was agreed upon by all
villagers at a meeting. The village head’s wife was attacked by goblins and all
she needed was a prophet or a traditional healer. Culprits were named by the
prophet and my mother recovered.
“We observed social distance and there was no risk of
contracting coronavirus. Only one villager refused to attend the ceremony” said
Dzevhu the nephew.
Jairai who is head of Chiedza Apostolic Church also
confirmed the ceremony.
“The woman was in a trance after she was attacked by
goblins sent by some villagers. The village head’s family actually wanted to
assault the culprits but I advised them against it,” said Jairai. Masvingo
Mirror
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