Has witchcraft taken over?

parents, guardians and teachers encouraging children to take education as the stepping stone to success are threatened with falling out of fashion.
Or is it so?
There have been reports and cases of people who have successfully discarded education as the gateway to success and took on board sangomas, witchdoctors and prophets.
The scramble for wealth has seen the rise in the number of people who kill for ritual purposes and the occurrence of bizarre incidents have reached larger proportions.
To explore the myth surrounding proliferation of riches, especially as acquired and enjoyed by a person not formally or informally employed, this writer visited a self-styled prophet who operates from an open space along Simon Mazorodze Road.
After taking off shoes, we were instructed to remove cellphones and cash from our pockets as it is forbidden to consult the prophet while in possession of these materials.
We sat down on the green grass waiting with anxiety to listen to the story of success.
“Madzibaba you are very fortunate to have such a talent, because I can foresee all your family members kneeling down before you.
“You were supposed to be very rich but all your efforts are being frustrated by the enemy.
“For you to overcome this challenge you need to undergo a cleansing ceremony.
“You must buy this holy oil which cost US$5 and undergo a cleansing process that cost US$45.
“Definitely you will come back here to give a testimony,” he said.
To encourage us to have faith in him the prophet started mentioning the names of famous people and pointed out that he is the force behind their riches.
We left the place and promised to come back, but we discovered the cost of acquiring wealth and success, a mere US$50 note.
There is a notable increase in the number of people who are acquiring wealth, yet not formally employed or meaningfully participating in the informal sector.
As a matter of coincidence the advertising medium is awash with adverts on sangomas and witchdoctors who claim to have powers to make people rich.
A local sangoma who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was possible to make someone successful through appeasing evil spirits that always bring bad luck to people.
Cases of people murdered and body parts mutilated allegedly for ritual purposes are on the increase and society is blaming the prophets, witchdoctors and sangomas as they are convinced that they are the brains behind these activities.
“No! We don’t support that because such activities are associated with witchcraft and our duty is to protect people from such evil deeds,” explained a sangoma who preferred anonymity.
Senior Advisor and Information Secretary for Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association George Kandiero said many people had engaged in witchcraft as a way to accumulate wealth.
“Our association is encouraging people not to partake in these activities as they have serious repercussions.
“People always blame witchdoctors but these activities are being carried by ordinary people in the comfort of their homes.
“They are visiting West African countries where the art of making riches through witchcraft is believed to have originated.
He added that people must weigh the consequences before falling victim to these dangerous activities.
“There are cases of people who cannot survive beyond 10 years after attaining riches and some do not bear children as a reward to prosperity and fame gained through witchcraft. “We are going to educate society on the dangers of these activities so that they will make the right decisions and lobby for an effective implementation of the Witchcraft Suppression Act,” said Kandiero.
The Witchcraft Suppression Act makes witchcraft a criminal offense punishable by a fine or a five-year jail term.
Benjamin Mashuku of Glen Norah believes the fly-by-night wealthy people of today owe their success to witchcraft – or illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
Sharon Maposa of Budiriro blamed society for having a poverty mentality that leads people into viewing success from a wrong perception.
“Society must stop associating rich people with witchcraft as it is not always the case.
“There is a need for a paradigm shift in the way we view things because it makes us slaves of poverty,” she said.
As it is always utterly impossible to gather evidence or prove cases related to witchcraft many issues will go undetected.
Cases of men being raped and sperms taken allegedly for ritual purposes will remain a fuss, as there is no concrete evidence.
Children are disappearing without a trace and reports on snakes coming out of vehicles in the Central Business District suddenly became a topical issue.
Most interestingly there are reports of money turning into an avocado leaf, yet the truth will remain veiled in obscurity.
Witchcraft is a spiritual activity although the law enforcement agents are trying to eliminate it armed with the Witchcraft Suppression Act.
Concerned stakeholders have called on police to fully engage witchdoctors and traditional leaders to work towards the total elimination of witchcraft activities wrecking havoc in society.