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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A Chiadzwa shop that received an unwelcome naked visitor in the dead of the night six weeks ago is yet to re-open after Chief Marange ruled that the shop owner needs to buy a beast for its cleansing ceremony.
An alleged witch, Synodia Matenga from Buhera, was found inside the locked shop during the wee hours of the morning.
Chief Marange ruled that the shop should be cleansed before the tenant, Tabeth Chiomba, resumes operations.
The Weekender understands that the shop owner, Ishmael Dangarembizi, is arguing that Matenga should meet the cleansing ceremony’s costs.
When she was found inside the shop, Matenga allegedly confessed that she had entered the shop with nine other colleagues on their mission to bewitch Chiomba.
She revealed that she had an altercation with her nine colleagues who then decided to leave her behind.
When Dangarembizi and Chiomba recently appeared before Chief Marange’s court, the former was ordered to buy a beast that will be slaughtered to cleanse his shop.
However, he insisted that the alleged witch needs to buy the beast for the cleansing ceremony.
“No one knows the witch’s whereabouts. Headman Chiadzwa only told us that she stays in Buhera.
“We have asked Headman Chiadzwa for her contact details, but he is not forthcoming with them.
“I do not think that it is my responsibility to buy a beast to cleanse my shop. If my tenant Chiomba cannot finance the cleansing, then the shop should remain closed,” he said.
However, Chief Marange insisted that the shop was defiled by the coven of witches and needs cleansing.
He also accused Headman Chiadzwa of undermining his authority by handling the matter on his own and not transferring it to his court.
“I am shocked that Headman Chiadzwa dealt with this matter on his own and dismissed the witch the next day when he knows that such matters should be referred to the Chief’s court.
“Headman Chiadzwa and the witch should be summoned to this court so that we know what really transpired and whether she was fined or not. She defiled my land and should be held accountable.
“However, there is need for the shop to be cleansed and Dangarembizi should finance it as it he owns the shop,” ordered Chief Marange.
According to Chief Marange’s orders, Chiomba cannot move her goods into another shop before the cleansing ceremony as they were also tainted by the alleged witch.
Narrating the events leading to the ‘crash-landing’ of Matenga in her shop, Chiomba said: “I was sleeping in my room with my boyfriend on that fateful night when I heard a deafening sound on the door. My partner was asleep and l had to wake him up.
“However, he brushed everything aside and went back to sleep. Within some minutes, I came face-to-face with the naked Matenga sitting on the shop’s counter.
“I was so scared but I managed to wake up my partner who was also at a loss for words.
“We informed the traditional leadership and the witch was taken to Headman Chiadzwa’s homestead.”
Chief Marange adjourned the matter to March 5 to allow Headman Chiadzwa and Matenga to be summoned to court.
Online Reporter