Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
A WOMAN’S search for spiritual help turned into a nightmare after a self-styled healer who claimed he could chase away goblins tried to rape her during a fake cleansing ritual.
Cain Mushayi (29) will now spend 15 years behind bars after the Rusape Magistrates Court found him guilty of attempted rape.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the woman’s ordeal started on 3 October 2025 in Village Domborembizi under Chief Makoni. Mushayi approached the woman at her homestead, claiming he had the power to fix her marriage and remove the goblins that were supposedly “sleeping with her” and destabilising her home.
Desperate for help, the woman allowed him into her two-roomed house which was still under construction. Once inside, the bizarre ritual began. The NPAZ said the fake healer told her to remove her trousers and then lit a fire on a stick. He placed the burning stick between her legs, claiming the flames would drive away the goblins tormenting her.
The ritual quickly turned into an assault. The court heard that Mushayi suddenly pushed the woman to the floor, stripped himself and attempted to rape her. A fierce struggle broke out as the woman fought back. During the scuffle, Mushayi ejaculated on her legs before she managed to overpower him, forcing him to flee from the house.
The NPAZ condemned the predator’s actions and urged communities to stay alert. “This case serves as a stark warning against falling victim to fraudsters posing as spiritual healers to exploit vulnerable individuals,” said the prosecuting authority. The NPAZ also cautioned the public to be wary of strangers offering unsolicited rituals in private spaces.
Mathew Masinge