A Murehwa family has dragged their father to court accusing him of bewitching them and causing miscarriages affecting his daughters and daughters-in-law.

The 80-year-old man, being accused of witchcraft, was taken to a traditional healer’s shrine for the whole night.

Only identified as Didza, he was taken to a Mabelreign traditional healer where he soiled himself after being given an unidentified liquid mixture.

Didza revealed the abuse at the hands of children, before Harare Civil Court magistrate Meenal Naratom where he was seeking a protection order against the children Alex, Kudzanai, and Tambudzai.

The three accused him of witchcraft and causing death of family members and miscarriages.  Didza claimed that his children consulted a sangoma and are in the habit of calling him a witch.

“Tambudzai asked me to accompany her to a traditional healer in Mabelreign, who alleged that I was a witch. The traditional healer was hired by my children.”

He also stated that the healer drugged him, and made incisions on his head and knee.

Didza also said he was accused of causing family members’ deaths and miscarriages.

“I was drugged and the next morning l woke up wearing a diaper. I also noticed that the traditional healer had cut my head and knee.

“He alleged that l am the one behind the death of my family members.

“They allege that l feast on the blood of the deceased,” he said.

Didza denied the allegations, stating that it was his late older brother who was involved in witchcraft, not him.

He accused his children of trying to extort money from him and seeking revenge.

“My late older brother was the one involved in witchcraft and my children are aware of that.”

Meanwhile, Alex said a traditional healer confirmed their suspicions.

“We consulted a traditional healer and he alleged that our father is the reason behind the death that occurs in the family.”

Kudzanai and Tambudzai claimed that their father admitted to past involvement in witchcraft and that they believed he was responsible for the family’s misfortunes, including the deaths of 14 brothers and multiple miscarriages.

He admitted that he was once involved in witchcraft and that there were things he was ordered to do, which is causing the sudden deaths.

“He has appeared before the court seeking for a protection order to run away from us confronting him about the situation.

“After visiting the traditional healer, he was accused of killing his family members including his 14 brothers.

“Each year a family member is buried. They all die the same way from the ages 60 to 70.

“Daughters-in-law miscarry, they are more than six incidents now.”

Magistrate Naratom granted the protection order, ordering the children to stop harassing and accusing their father of witchcraft. The court also warned the children against using traditional healers to settle family disputes.