Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl’s unexplained illness, marked by persistent nosebleeds and alarming behavioural changes, has sparked controversy and extraordinary allegations that eventually found their way before Chief Mutasa’s community court.
The child’s father, Fungai Sithole, said his daughter, a Grade Three learner, began displaying unusual symptoms shortly after receiving a bundle of clothes from a distant maternal relative.
What initially appeared to be a routine health concern soon developed into a distressing ordeal that left the family searching for answers.
“My child started bleeding from the nose and I initially thought it was because of the hot weather.
“Two days later, I found her putting her fingers into her nose, drawing out the blood and licking it. When I asked her why she was doing that, she said she liked it. I told her to stop, but instead her condition became worse,” said Sithole.
Concerned about the prolonged nosebleeds, Sithole said he asked his sister-in-law to take the child to a clinic, where health personnel recommended further medical examination by a doctor.
Before those arrangements could be made, however, the child’s health reportedly deteriorated.
“It has been three weeks since this started. She became very weak and could no longer play with other children or eat properly. At one point her eyes appeared to be turning and I feared she was dying,” he said.
Sithole said events took an even more troubling turn when he dressed the child in one of the garments she had received from the relative.
He claimed the girl reacted immediately, accusing him and her mother of endangering her life by making her wear the dress.
“She said the dress had charms. It appeared as though another voice was speaking through her. I immediately removed the dress and, at that moment, I noticed what looked like fur covering parts of her body, including her face. I was frightened and stepped away. When I looked again, it had disappeared,” he said.
Sithole said the child later began removing the donated clothes from the house and throwing them outside.
“When I asked why she was doing that, she said she would only wear clothes that I had bought for her. Shortly afterwards she became unconscious. I was terrified because I did not understand what was happening,” he said.
The situation allegedly created tension within the family when the child’s mother returned from Mutare, and was accused by the girl of bringing the clothes linked to her condition.
Seeking answers, Sithole said he turned to his church for assistance.
“I was advised to pray and wait for the spirit to manifest. I was discouraged from taking the child to hospital because some people said she could die if I did so,” he said.
He further alleged that the child was later taken to stay at another church member’s home and that unusual misfortunes befell some of the people who assisted her.
Sithole said the alleged spirit eventually identified itself as Crispen, a 46-year-old man who was purportedly seeking justice over his death.
The matter was subsequently referred to Chief Mutasa’s court.
During the proceedings, the alleged spirit, speaking through the child, accused Wellington and his son, Wellington Jnr, of causing Crispen’s death and using spiritual means to acquire wealth.
The claims were strongly rejected by the accused. Wellington Snr denied every allegation levelled against him and his family.
“Yes, my son Crispen had a heart condition, but these accusations are false. This is not Crispen speaking. I do not have charms and I never killed anyone. These are lies,” he told the court.
He insisted that the child was not possessed by his late son and dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Chief Mutasa did not make an immediate ruling on the matter.
Instead, he adjourned the case to allow for further consultations and investigations before the court reconvenes.
Dead man’s spirit took over girl’s body
