Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A FADE up Nyanga family last Saturday publicly challenged and dared notorious traditional healer, Matthias Sithole to unleash his so-called goblins on them.
This was after Sithole had accused them of collecting wealth-enhancing goblins and subsequently failing to pay a debt of US$10 000.
In a dramatic appearance before Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday, Reuben Nyambayo of Nyatate in Nyanga, brazenly dared Sithole, a self-proclaimed and contentious traditional healer from the area who allegedly claims to supply goblins to desperate individuals seeking instant wealth, to unleash his supernatural forces against him.
“Let him do his worst. Let him kill me and the truth will come out. I never approached or collected anything, let alone a goblin from him. I did not even know the man before this madness began. Now he claims I obtained a goblin from him?
“He is lying. He is doing this to many families, and I will not be one of his victims. You cannot simply lie and demand money, especially since these matters are spiritual and lack tangible evidence. Let him produce his record book with my name in it,” Nyambayo said bitterly before the court.
According to him, Sithole is demanding a staggering US$10 000 from his family, claiming it is payment owed for a goblin he allegedly gave to Nyambayo and two other relatives.
“We will pay him the US$10 000 in cash if he proves that any of us collected the goblin,” he said.
Nyambayo and his family deny ever engaging with the healer for goblins or anything similar.
“I was shocked when I heard that his sons were claiming I had collected a goblin. I had never met the man before. Suddenly, I was being threatened and told to pay money or face spiritual consequences? If it is true that I took a goblin, then let it (goblin) kill me within the next three days,” the man dared.
However, Sithole said he would unleash his goblins, but refused to provide a timeframe.
He warned the court that he no longer wanted the Nyambayo family to visit his homestead, threatening dire consequences.
“I will consult my goblins. They know what to do. I will not be ordered to set a date, but they will act. You will seek me out yourselves when they start troubling you. As for you, Reuben, your time is coming. The goblin that remains within the family will strike you, and then you will believe,” he warned.
Sithole stood firm, shifting the responsibility to his spirits.
“I did not say Reuben took the goblin. My ancestor did, so I do not see why I am being sued personally. My ancestors know where their belongings are. This is not the first time this family has dragged me to court. They keep saying I am lying, yet they came to me for goblins. Some of them are deceased, and the rest will follow,” he said.
The saga has deeply unsettled the family.
Reuben’s nephew, Alois Nyambayo, provided a chilling account of how the matter unfolded after a surprise phone call from his mother.
“My mother called, saying Sithole claimed the family owed him US$10 000. He alleged that Reuben had collected a goblin in February. So, we visited his homestead to uncover the truth,” he told the court.
He said Sithole initially denied the claim, and accused them of calling him a liar.
However, after some persuasion and payment, they were told that Sithole would consult his ancestors.
“We paid him, and he entered into a trance, claiming to communicate with his ancestors. Upon returning, he said he was a Satanist and could not reveal the name of the person who collected the goblin. We paid again, and that was when he told us that one of us possessed the goblin and was still utilising it. However, he refused to disclose the individual’s name,” said Alois.
Alois explained that Sithole later sent his sons to their homestead with new allegations, now accusing Reuben and another relative, Julius.
“I was so enraged that I threatened to assault them. They fled. Later, one of my uncles fell ill and passed away. However, we do not believe it was due to goblins. A prophet at our church had previously foretold the illness, so it was not unexpected,” he said.
Despite their belief in divine prophecy, the family is now perplexed as Sithole appears to be taking credit for the uncle’s death.
“He is now claiming that his goblins caused the death, which is absurd,” said Alois.
Reuben’s sister, Veronica Nyambayo, confirmed the demand for US$10 000 allegedly made by Sithole.
“We will not pay a single cent for something we did not request. If he claims we possess his goblin, let him retrieve it using his powers,” she told the court.
Chief Mutasa urged caution and respect for traditional processes, reminding the family that spiritual matters are delicate.
“Do not take these matters lightly. These are traditional issues. If you were dissatisfied with Sithole’s statements, you should have consulted another traditional healer,” advised the chief.
The matter was adjourned, pending what Chief Mutasa dramatically referred to as the response of the spiritual world.
