Online Reporter
Weekender Reporter
A DRAMATIC and disturbing family feud has spilled into the public domain after a Botswana-based Zimunya woman accused her mother of practising Satanism and allegedly initiating her children into dark voodoo rituals.
When The Weekender visited the troubled family homestead in Gandayi under Chief Zimunya early this week, Tatenda Munjoma was visibly distraught, sitting among packed bags alongside her three minor daughters — preparing to “dump” them at her mother’s homestead in Chigodora in protest.
“I am exhausted. My life is in disarray, and now I am going to dump them at my mother’s homestead so that she can do whatever she wants with us,” said Munjoma.
The emotional daughter accused her own mother — Rose Chishiri of practising Satanism, witchcraft and introducing goblins (zvikwambo) into their lives.
“My mother is a witch and she has also joined Satanism. She is attempting to initiate my three children into the cult. As a result, she has, in effect, married me off to goblins that torment us daily. My children are unable to sleep. They scream at midnight, claiming to be seeing people performing rituals outside our house,” said Munjoma.
She recounted a chilling incident from the previous night: “Last night, my daughter woke me up around midnight, saying there were people starting a fire at our gate and performing rituals. When I arrived, I saw snuff sprinkled everywhere and ashes where a fire had been lit. My daughter was not hallucinating,” she alleged.
Munjoma claims her children, aged 15, 12, and 10, have since dropped out of school due to what she describes as “spiritual attacks” perpetrated by her mother.
“My eldest daughter began misbehaving at school — she would insult teachers and even hired people to pose as her parents when summoned. They nearly expelled her. That was when I told the school authorities that it was not her fault, but rather my mother’s influence. All three of my children exhibit extremely bad behaviour — people avoid them and this is all due to these spiritual attacks,” she said.
All the three children are reportedly exuding suicidal tendencies.
“They say they want to die. They claim the voices in their heads instruct them to kill themselves. I am failing to get help. I have visited several traditional healers and churches, but nothing seems to be working,” she lamented.
In a separate interview, the eldest daughter confirmed the strange occurrences and supernatural sightings around their home.
“There are snakes everywhere. We see them on the veranda, in the bathroom and even under the beds. Sometimes I wake up being choked. It appears like something heavy will be on my chest,” she said.
However, in an interview with The Weekender, Chishiri, denied all the accusations, arguing that the problem lies with her daughter, not her.
“I think her misdeeds are backfiring on her. When she was in Botswana, she might have acquired wealth enhancing charms or joined the Satanism cult she is talking about. Now they are haunting her and the children,” said Chishiri, adding that Munjoma abandoned her children at a tender age, leaving them with her for extended periods.
“I raised those children from the time they were just a few months old. If I had wanted to harm them, would I not have done so back then when she was in Botswana? She would ‘dump’ the babies and return only when it suited her,” she said.
Chishiri confirmed that she had previously accompanied her daughter in seeking spiritual help, but eventually gave up.
“I used to attend sessions with traditional healers and prophets with her. However, it became too much, and I stopped. That was when she began accusing me of witchcraft and Satanism. She turned against me because I refused to be a part of it,” she explained, maintaining that her daughter was mentally stable and had never exhibited signs of psychological illness.
“She is not sick, but rather confused and disrespectful. I cannot accept being labelled a witch by my own child. She is no longer my daughter — I do not want her at my home,” said Chishiri firmly.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Chishiri and her family have refused to attend hearings at Chief Mutambara’s community court, where the matter had been reported.
Interviewed community members expressed suspicions that there is more to the story than what meets the eye.
A neighbour, Blessing Maziti, said: “We are aware that Munjoma and her mother do not see eye-to-eye due to these allegations. Previously, she accused her mother of failing to disclose her real father’s identity, and now she is accusing her of being a Satanist. It seems both parties require assistance.”
Meanwhile, Munjoma insisted that until her mother takes responsibility and removes the alleged goblins, her life will continue to spiral out of control.
“I have exhausted all avenues — no one is willing to help me. My own family has disowned me for speaking the truth. However, I will not stop until I secure justice for my daughters,” she vowed.
