Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A 64-YEAR-OLD woman from Sakubva is refusing to accept her medical diagnosis of herpes zoster and HIV, instead attributing her condition to alleged wizardry by her estranged husband and son.
Despite confirmation from medical professionals, Margaret Chibhege remains adamant that her condition is of spiritual nature, claiming she is under attack from a goblin, supposedly sent by her family members.
In an unsolicited and emotionally charged interview last Thursday, Chibhege painted a picture of betrayal and suffering, accusing her ex-husband — John Chibhege — and one of their adult sons of conspiring to “use” her spiritually to boost their businesses at the expense of her health and peace of mind.
“My husband left me with four children in 1988, and one of them was only a month-old. Since then, he never gave me a dime to look after these kids. I raised my children alone in Sakubva under very harsh conditions,” she said, adding that trouble began when her son, based in Kadoma, began looking after his father — the man who had allegedly abandoned the family decades ago.
“I followed him there and asked why he was caring for a man who had caused us so much suffering. My son agreed to take me in, and my ex-husband and I ended up staying under the same roof, in a house our son had rented for us. I told my son that I could not stay with a man I had divorced over 30 years ago, but he insisted that we stay in separate rooms, and not act like husband and wife,” she said.
Chibhege claimed her condition deteriorated when the forced cohabitation began, describing it as the moment her life took a turn for the worse.
“That man started calling me names, saying I am a witch, and insulting me daily. I told my son I could not take the abuse anymore, and he eventually bought a plot for us to live separately. That is when I started seeing ghosts. I would hear strange noises, see shadows, and feel suffocated at night,” she alleged.
She eventually moved back to Mutare, and stayed in a rented house in Chikanga, but claims her health deteriorated dramatically.
According to her, strange wounds resembling burns began appearing on her back and shoulders while she was still in Kadoma, recurring periodically and causing itching, pain, and a crawling sensation.
A consultation with Dr Mhinga, a Kadoma-based doctor, confirmed she had contracted herpes zoster and HIV. However, Chibhege flatly disputed the medical results.
“I never had herpes zoster or HIV before. I did not even sleep with my ex-husband again after our divorce. Yes, I later had boyfriends in my life, but none of them had HIV or herpes zoster. Had I contracted those diseases back then, I would have fallen ill, but I only became ill after I was placed under the same roof with my ex-husband by my son. These people bewitched me,” she said, sobbing.
Chibhege said prophets and traditional healers confirmed her suspicions that her ex-husband and son implanted a goblin inside her to prosper in their businesses.
“This goblin gnaws inside me on my shoulder — as if it is eating away at me. For years now, I have been carrying this goblin, and I do not believe it is herpes zoster or HIV,” she said, insisting that the diagnosis is part of a broader spiritual conspiracy, and claims she is unable to find love or peace.
“At 64, no man wants me anymore because of this goblin I carry, which dissuades men from being with me. I want this thing removed. I need help from traditional healers who can truly remove this goblin, so that even doctors can finally see that I don’t have herpes zoster or HIV.
“I want it removed. I need help from a powerful traditional healer, so that even doctors can finally see that I do not have herpes or HIV. I stopped taking my herpes zoster medication because this is spiritual, not physical attack. However, I am still taking my HIV medication for now,” she said.
When asked why she continues to reject the medical evidence, Chibhege said: “It is because this condition does not act like a normal disease. It flares up when I feel spiritually attacked.
“I can feel it move inside me. This is not normal. I just want peace. I want this curse lifted. I know what is happening to me is not normal, and I won’t stop until I find someone who can remove this thing from me. I am tired of being labelled and isolated,” she said tearfully.
When contacted for comment, the estranged husband, John Chibhege dismissed the allegations, saying: “My ex-wife is bitter and delusional. I never bewitched anyone. I am not a wizard. Our children decided to take care of me, not the other way round.”
“She has always held grudges against me, and now she is trying to tarnish my reputation,” he said.
However, Chibhege’s claims are not supported by scientific evidence.
Medical experts interviewed said while emotional distress can exacerbate some symptoms, the presence of herpes zoster and HIV are clearly diagnosable viral infections.
Dr Stern Chisiyiwa, a local physician, explained: “Herpes zoster is a viral infection that typically presents with painful blisters, burning, itching, and sometimes fever. Once someone contracts it, the virus remains in the body for life, and symptoms can flare up occasionally due to a weakened immune system. It often lies dormant in a person’s lymph nodes, and in some cases, it can cause post-herpetic neuralgia, which is common among HIV-positive individuals.”
Dr Chisiyiwa noted that stigma and lack of understanding often fuel denial.
He added that it is common for patients, especially those under emotional or social stress to attribute recurring symptoms to spiritual causes.
Regarding HIV, Dr Chisiyiwa said herpes zoster is most prevalent among people living with HIV.
He said while antiretroviral therapy (ART) can effectively manage the virus, refusing treatment or attributing the illness to supernatural forces can have dire consequences, leaving patients isolated and without the support they desperately need.
Online Reporter