Banished woman morrors plight of the elderly

Siphilisiwe Mloyi
IF Esnath Sibanda (70) had been younger when banished from her village the name of her first child in exile would tell her story.

But that is not the case because when she was banished from Grandi village in Matopo, Matabeleland South, after a traditional court led by Chief Malaki Masuku found her guilty of witchcraft, she had a�?nothing more to live fora�?.

Her crime allegedly led to the death of a village head and there is some sickness for which she claimed responsibility.
Sibanda pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness but the whole community now fears her. Therefore, the chief banished her.

She had been living with her daughter-in-law whose husband, (her son) based in Botswana, provided for them.

The tribe spoke and Sibanda was banished to Fumugwe, a neighbouring village.

Speaking to B-Metro Sibanda said she had been literally moved to Siberia.

a�?The land does not produce anything. It is a reserve. White settlers moved blacks from fertile soils to Fumugwe.

Even the paddocks are dry,a�? she said about her new home.

The elderly woman is between a rock and a hard place with no idea where to start.

a�?I dona��t know how to go about this. I have grown weary and I have developed arthritis and back pains. I cana��t do manual work,a�? she said.

Like anyone banished for a similar offence, the fear of the unknown is the greatest ghost haunting Sibanda because she also fears that her new community would victimise her.

a�?I dona��t know how they are going to receive me especially after the news of what happened. As you know, rumour is a great traveller. I am not settled,a�? she said.

For most Zimbabweans, especially those who grew up or reside in rural areas, it is absurd to say the supernatural does not exist.

Thabiso Mnkandla, a member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association said the initiative to banish Sibanda was correct.

a�?In our tradition that is how things used to be. A witch was eliminated from society and moved to a place with people of her ilk. But as a traditional healer I can advise her to approach traditional healers who will cast out the spirit in her,a�? Mnkandla said.

The deputy president of the Chiefa��s Council, Chief Mtshana Khumalo feels that banishment was outdated and infringed on onea��s right despite that particular person admitting to have committed the offence.

a�?In our traditional courts if someone pleads guilty he pays a fine which is usually in the form of livestock. Even though he murdered someone through witchcraft it is very inhuman to banish that person,a�? he said.

However, Mtshane said a long time ago people tried for witchcraft cases were banished and settled together on dry, tsetse-infested lands called a�?reservesa�?.

a�?Back in the days all witches were settled at a place called Zikungwa so that they would not contaminate other people. This was also done to prevent more people from being affected by their witchcraft acts,a�? Khumalo said.

A traditionalist, Pathisa Nyathi, added thatA� witchcraft was a serious issue that attracted the maximum penalty.

a�?Where there is modern day Sizinda suburb, there is a mountain called intaba yabathakathi (witchesa�� mountain).

Thata��s where people tried over witchcraft were killed. Those who were lucky to flee found refuge at Nhlambabaloyi in Ntabazinduna,a�? he said.

The programmesa�� manager for HelpAge Zimbabwe, Adonis Fife, believes Sibandaa��s banishment is endangering an elderly person as she is bound to suffer from ailments associated with stress and old age.

He recommended an old peoplea��s home as the safest place for her.

a�?Such treatment is not fair because we dona��t have policies which are against witchcraft. Besides, even if her matter is to be traced back there is no proof that she is guilty. As Help Age Zimbabwe we can help her get accommodated at old peoplea��s homes such as Entembeni and Ekuphumuleni in Bulawayo,a�? Fife said.

HelpAge Zimbabwe is a non-governmental organisation formed in 1989 to cater for the needs of old people.

The church is not silent on the issue. Bishop Joshua Nyava of House of Prayer Generation said the mandate of the local leaders was to look after such people by finding a good solution to such issues.

a�?Witchcraft is a spirit. No one does it unless he or she is possessed. As a society how do you cast away your own?

That womana��s roots are in Grandi village. Her life is there. Banishing her is as good as taking life out of her.

a�?No one is perfect for the Bible in Romans 3v23 says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

a�?We need to show a human face. Society has to forgive her. I am willing to assist in which ever possible way. She just needs deliverance for the spirit of witchcraft to be cast out of her,a�? he said.

Sibandaa��s issue is a thorn in the flesh as she has failed to pay the five goats that she was fined at the Chiefa��s court. The entire community wants her to vacate the village.