FAMILY FIGHTS OVER WITCHCRAFT

Hazel Marimbiza
MEMBERS of a Matopo family are reportedly at each othera��s throats because of a clay pot which was found buried in one of the family membersa�� homestead.

The pot which was discovered by witch-hunters is reported to have been covered with a red cloth smeared with fresh blood.

At the centre of the storm is Roy Sibanda (a woman) who witch-hunters accused of having buried the pot in her nephew Jakobe Sibandaa��s (ABOVE) homestead. Sibanda has, however, dismissed the witchcraft accusations.

Jakobe reportedly sought the witch-huntersa�� help after the death of his grandchild and mysterious illnesses suffered by two of his grandchildren.

a�?Jakobea��s grandchild died mysteriously and two more grandchildren are seriously ill.A� Nothing wrong with them was found at the clinic,a�? said a village source.

Jacobe was left with no choice but to turn to traditional healers.

a�?During the cleansing ceremony, tsikamutandas found a clay pot smeared with blood and covered with a red cloth in Jakobea��s homestead. They said theA� pot belonged to Roy and that she was the one causing the illnesses suffered by Jakobea��s grandchildren,a�? added the source.

Following the witch-huntersa�� revelations, Jakobe and his daughter Simelane Sibanda are reportedly up in arms with Roy.

Jakobe told B-Metro that his aunt was evil and he would never want to see her ever again.

a�?Long back I consulted different prophets about mysterious deaths that were occurring in my family. They all told me she was behind the deaths. I did not really believe those accusations until I recently sought help from witch-hunters who dug the ground and discovered a clay pot smeared with fresh blood which they said belonged to her,a�? Jakobe said.

a�?It is not a secret that she is the witch. She is currently tormenting my grandchildren with all kinds of illnesses,a�? he added.

A visibly teary Simelane said her aunt had brought her unbearable pain.

a�?Two of my children are seriously ill. I fear they might all die because of Roya��s witchcraft,a�? said Simelane.

However, Roy denied allegations brought against her. a�?The witch-hunters are liars. I am not a witch. He believed them because he has always suspected me of being a witch,a�? said Roy.