Online Reporter
A 35-year-old woman from Beitbridge says she has been tormented for the past 30 years by goblins acquired by two family members.
Looking unkempt and desperate, Mazvita Marvelous Msavi, who is now desperately looking for help, said her ordeal began when she was a minor after relatives sought assistance from a traditional healer.
“These things have been sexually abusing me since I was a child,” she said, her voice breaking.
“My ordeal started when my relatives went to a witch doctor. I was only three years old at the time. The witch doctor gave them 10 goblins, which were supposed to be accommodated at the homes of either my father’s or mother’s relatives. Instead, five were ‘assigned’ to me and the other five to my younger sister.”
Msavi says the terrifying goblins have haunted her for years, appearing in different forms.
“They torment me every day. From as early as six o’clock in the evening, they begin to appear, sometimes disguising themselves as my relatives,” she said in a haunting monotone.
Her eyes betrayed deep fear and suffering.
“I live in constant fear because I never know when they will come. They disturb my sleep and my peace.”
She claimed the torment worsens during her menstrual cycle.
“When I menstruate, they come to drink the blood. Even when I throw away my sanitary pads, they retrieve them to take the blood.”
Msavi says she begged her relatives to assist her seek help, but they have refused.
“They are benefitting financially from the goblins, leaving me to suffer alone,” she said, wiping away tears.
Her ordeal has affected many aspects of her life, including prospects of getting married.
“This problem has contributed to my failure to get married. Men have come to ask for my hand in marriage, but my relatives always stood in the way,” she said.
She further alleged that her relatives destroyed her academic certificates, identification documents and other vital papers.
“They burnt my Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates, as well as my birth certificate and national ID card. They want me to remain a vessel for their goblins.”
Without these documents, Msavi has been unable to secure employment.
“My life has become very difficult. I cannot find decent work and I struggle to survive,” she added.
Now homeless, she survives through vending and often sleeps at bus ranks in Beitbridge.
“The goblins still follow me wherever I sleep and molest me. They are inside me — I cannot shake them off. I need someone, anyone, who can help me get rid of them,” she pleaded.
“I do not have proper clothes or property. I am living in deep poverty because of the choices my relatives made many years ago. All I want now is help so that I can live a normal life like other people.” — Bulawayo Bureau
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Mother burns child’s hand over R2 theft
What would you do if your child stole R2 from a neighbour?
Well, a 25-year-old woman allegedly chose the cruellest punishment imaginable.
Miriam Mahlangu grabbed her six-year-old child’s tiny hand and placed it on a red-hot stove.
Mahlangu pleaded guilty to ill-treating a child before Beitbridge magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba, who remanded her in custody until March 6 for sentencing.
Prosecutor Tawanda Chigavazira told the court that on February 11, around 7am, Mahlangu was informed that her daughter had stolen 2 rand from their neighbour, Mai Alice.
The little girl apologised, promising her mother she would never do it again.
Mahlangu, however, switched on the stove, began lashing the girl with a whip and then forced her hand onto the burning surface. The child tried to pull away, but Mahlangu pressed her fingers down.
As a result, the girl suffered severe burns on her left palm and four fingers.
The police were tipped off, leading to Mahlangu’s arrest.
A medical report was submitted in court as evidence. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Plumtree man brutally assaults mother over brother’s burial
A 33-year-old man from Plumtree assaulted his mother, demanding that she exhume the body of his brother who had been buried in his absence.
Greater Ndlovu was forced to flee her home and live with relatives for three months after her son, Evans, threatened to “send her to her ancestors” if she ever returned.
At one point, she even slept in the bush for three weeks.
Evans, from Bezu Side, appeared before Plumtree magistrate Joshua Nembaware facing a physical abuse charge.
Prosecutor Sheila Nyathi told the court that on November 10, 2025, around 2pm, Evans punched his mother several times, injuring her right eye.
He then tried to force her to exhume his brother’s body.
When she refused, he struck her on the head with an iron bar, saying: “I want to send you to your ancestors today.”
Fearing for her life, Greater fled and Evans threatened to kill her if she ever returned home.
Despite efforts by relatives and the village head to persuade him to respect his mother, Evans continued issuing threats.
Feeling unsafe, Greater refused to go back home and ended up sleeping in the bush for three weeks.
She eventually reported the matter to the police, leading to Evans’ arrest. — B-Metro
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Mvurwi mother arrested after newborn found buried near home
Police have arrested a 32-year-old woman from Mvurwi following allegations that she strangled her newborn baby and buried the body in a shallow grave near her home.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the arrest of Thandiwe Kangara in connection with a case of infanticide that occurred on March 4 at Chihwe Village 2 Farm.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Kangara gave birth alone to a baby girl before allegedly strangling the infant and burying the body in a shallow grave about 10 metres from her homestead.
The matter came to light after a juvenile who had returned from school noticed that Kangara no longer had a baby bump and alerted a relative.
Family members conducted further inquiries, which led to the case being reported to the Vivelkia Police Post on March 5.
Police subsequently arrested Kangara and exhumed the infant’s remains from a grave located close to her homestead.
The body was transported to Guruve Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
The authorities have confirmed that investigations into the matter are ongoing. — Mashonaland Central Bureau
