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IN the wee hours at Gwambe Clinic, some terror stalked the police officers stationed there.
It was not a rogue with a weapon, but something more insidious — some feminine hunger that clawed its way through locked doors.
For a year, these officers spoke of unseen figures that slithered into their dreams. These phantoms offered pleasure that left them drained and shivering in the pale dawn.
The only evidence of the unnatural figures and events would be an ajar door and a terrifying emptiness.
“Once inside, the goblins start caressing us all over the body. They touch your head, shoulder, waist and stomach like someone caressing her boyfriend. You feel it in your sleep, but you cannot wake up to fight it off.
“Once awake, we find the doors open. After waking up, sometimes we pray, but as soon as we sleep, we will hear knocks on the windows and the episodes begin again. We suspect these are female goblins and their only interest is sex with males,” said one of the affected officers.
There was a charged meeting at which Bulilima Ward Two residents in Matabeleland South province voiced their outrage over the troubling situation at the clinic, whose construction is about to be completed.
The community, which has poured its heart and sweat into building the clinic, with help from their diaspora kin, is now fiercely united to find a solution to the problem.
Councillor Mabed Ngulani confirmed the development, but was tight-lipped on the specifics of the problem plaguing their medical facility.
The meeting, which was also attended by Chief Kandana, was marked by a mix of determination and unease. The traditional leader’s presence hinted at the gravity of the issue, leaving villagers to speculate on the nature of the threat to their clinic.
“I confirm that we had a ward meeting to discuss a number of issues happening in the area but top on the agenda was the issue of goblins, which forced the police to retreat from the base. The police withdrew, complaining of disturbances at night.
“They had initially asked that we relocate them, but we could not find accommodation for them at our local schools. The police were also part of the meeting and our chief, ukhuzile kakhulu (made a passionate plea) and we expect that whoever is behind the goblins will respect the chief’s address.
“If it continues, we will take the next step. The community is not happy with the development because the police details deployed there are doing a wonderful job. Their presence has made it easy for people to clear their livestock when selling, when we record home deaths and reduction of crime,” he said.
According to Councillor Ngulani, the community pleaded with the police to return to the clinic after Chief Kandana addressed the villagers. However, the officers remained reluctant. They indicated they would need to consult with their superiors before making a decision.
In the officers’ absence, a brave community member volunteered to spend the night at the clinic. However, the courageous act was not without consequence.
The volunteer reportedly corroborated the officers’ claims of paranormal activity.
“. . . we asked someone to guard the place at night since we have construction property kept on-site. The guy who slept there keeps the lights on at night and he said he only heard noise on the windows and the rooftops as the goblins seem to be shy of light.”
Descent Lungwane Moyo, chairperson of the clinic project’s diaspora committee, vowed that the community abroad would not be deterred by the recent events.
He urged continued support and a final push to complete the project, bringing much-needed healthcare closer to home.
“There seems to be someone who wants to draw us back on developing our area, but let us not allow them to win. We once had some of our roofing sheets stolen but we were not deterred, so on this one, too, we shall overcome. Let us continue building while our elders at home address the matter,” he said in his update to the members via WhatsApp. — B-Metro
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Duo caught feasting on stolen donkey meat
Stealing a donkey is bad enough, but slaughtering it and then being caught feasting on its meat by its owner is worse.
That is a sure way of getting tongues wagging in some parts of Zimbabwe, where donkey meat is a culinary taboo.
However, two men from Mapulula 2 village in Plumtree, Matabeleland South province, sparked outrage after they were busted for stealing, slaughtering and feasting on a fellow villager’s donkey.
For failing to control their craving for donkey meat, Charles Ndlovu and Honest Moyo, both aged 23 years, landed themselves in the soup when they were arrested and appeared before a Plumtree magistrate, charged with theft.
They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 24 months imprisonment each. Six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. An additional six months were suspended on condition they compensate the complainant.
The remaining 12 months were further suspended on condition they each complete 420 hours of community service.
The court heard that on May 9, 2024, in the grazing lands of Mapulula 2 village, Ndlovu and Moyo pounced on a coffee-coloured female donkey that was unattended.
They chased down the animal and on catching it, they used an unidentified weapon to slaughter it. They took the meat home, cooked it and then ate it.
The two were reported to the donkey owner by some villagers who had seen them slaughtering the beast of burden.
The following day, the owner, along with a group of other villagers, tracked down the duo and found them at their home with the remaining donkey meat, including hooves.
They found the two eating some of the meat, while the other simmered in a pot for an evening meal.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the two and their subsequent appearance in court.
The stolen donkey was valued at US$150. — B-Metro
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Self-styled prophet steals from ladies during ‘cleansing’
A man who claimed to be a prophet and “revealed” to two women that they needed to be cleansed of bad luck before sending them to a bush for the ritual while he remained behind and stole their property has appeared in court.
Brighton Dube (28) from Manningdale suburb in Bulawayo appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Makelo Ncube on a theft charge. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
Dube begged for forgiveness from the victims and the magistrate, and said he was the sole breadwinner for his two children and no one would look after them if he was sent to jail.
The court heard that Precious Nhliziyo and Abigail Zhou were facing challenges and were told by their neighbour that Dube was a prophet.
On May 10, the pair invited Dube to their home in Manningdale suburb.
It is said Dube went to their home, prayed and prophesied for them. He is said to have revealed that their lives were plagued with bad luck.
He also told them that a spirit of stagnation affected them and they needed to be cleansed.
He gave them two bottles of water, which he had prayed for.
He told them to pour it in a bucket with water and go and bathe in the bush.
In their absence, Dube stole a laptop and three cellphones from the home and fled.
When Nhliziyo and Zhou returned, they discovered that Dube had disappeared with their property. They reported the incident to the police, leading to his arrest. — Bulawayo Bureau
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter