Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE family is living in perpetual fear and distress as the avenging spirit of a woman, allegedly killed decades ago, continues to torment generations within the family, forcing them to approach Chief Mutasa’s community court in search of the late victim’s relatives.
According to the family’s spokesperson, Sekuru Hamadziripi, the mysterious happenings in their family date back to the 1980s when his late elder brother, Martin Hamadziripi, then a schoolteacher at Mundenda Primary School in Mutasa, impregnated a fellow teacher, and allegedly gave her herbs to terminate the pregnancy.
The young woman, whose surname was known as Marwa, reportedly died as a result of the backyard abortion.
The Hamadziripi family do not know the deceased’s first name and her family’s whereabouts.
“We are haunted, and peace is eluding the family,” said Sekuru Hamadziripi, while narrating the family’s ordeal before Chief Mutasa.
“My older brother Martin was a teacher, and at that school, he met a woman whom he impregnated. He gave her some herbs to abort the pregnancy, and unfortunately, she died. He confessed the matter to us, and the woman was buried. He claimed that he had appeased the Marwa family each time he was asked,” he said.
However, according to the family, Martin died before revealing the exact location of the Marwa family, leaving behind an unresolved spiritual debt that is now tormenting his descendants.
“Eventually, our children started manifesting, demanding the appeasement of the Marwas. The spirit manifesting in them claims to be my father, Sekuru Vincent, but it refuses to tell us where the Marwa family hails from,” explained Hamadziripi, adding that the family has suffered numerous misfortunes believed to be linked to the unappeased spirit, including children mysteriously disappearing or marriages failing shortly after weddings.
“Different children have developed mental illnesses and gone missing over the years. Those who got married are being sent back home by their husbands. We have consulted various traditional healers, and all of them have instructed us to bring the matter before Chief Mutasa’s court so that the truth is revealed,” added Sekuru Hamadziripi.
He said the family’s only wish is to find the Marwas and perform the required appeasement rituals on behalf of his late brother to restore peace in their lineage.
“We are not running away from our responsibility. We only want to know where the Marwa family hails from so that we can appease them and put this matter to rest once and for all,” he pleaded before the court.
Sekuru Hamadziripi’s son, Sebastian, told the court that the spirit tormenting them was that of their grandfather, Vincent Hamadziripi, who had manifested through one of their children.
“Our late grandfather, Vincent, is the one manifesting through our child. He instructed us to come here for help. He was Martin’s father, and he claims that he cannot rest because the Marwa family has not been appeased,” said Sebastian.
However, Chief Mutasa questioned why the spirit manifesting in the family was that of their grandfather instead of the deceased teacher, who was the direct victim.
“I do not understand why it is not the Marwa victim herself, who is manifesting and demanding appeasement. Why is it Sekuru Vincent is manifesting instead of the dead teacher?” asked the traditional leader.
In response, the family explained that the spirit of Sekuru Vincent had claimed he was unable to rest because it was being blocked by the Marwa victim’s avenging spirit, which demanded justice first.
“The spirit said it wanted to re-enter its family lineage, but was being blocked by the Marwa teacher’s avenging spirit. It is as though our grandfather is caught between this spiritual conflict, and we, his descendants, are the ones suffering,” explained Sebastian.
After hearing the submissions, Chief Mutasa directed that spiritual guidance be sought through proper traditional channels and that the late teacher’s spirit should clearly communicate what form of appeasement it requires and where it should be delivered.
“The spirit of the dead teacher should tell the Hamadziripi family what it wants as appeasement and where it should be taken. There is no way we can proceed without knowing where the Marwa family resides,” ruled Chief Mutasa.
The traditional leader further said his court will assist the family in tracing the deceased teacher’s relatives by sending emissaries to Mundenda Primary School, where the late teacher once worked, to search for historical records that might lead to identifying her family.
“I will send my aides to Mundenda Primary School to check the school’s old records. Perhaps there are names or details that could help us locate the Marwa family. This matter must be settled to bring peace to both families,” said Chief Mutasa.
The matter was adjourned to a later date as efforts continue to locate the Marwa family.
