a�?Headmana��s snakea�� wipes out village herd

. Nkosilodumo Ndebele
JACK the snake!

A headman from Insuza Matabeleland Northa��s Village 19, Cephas Mdlongwa is being accused of owning a snake that has killed villagersa�� livestock.

The snake reportedly resides in one of his huts that was custom made. However, it has also become a problem for him such that he allegedly looked for witch hunters to help him get rid of it.

a�?Our livestock is dying because of this snake. Every time we follow its trail we are led to Mdlongwaa��s place and then it disappears when we get to his homestead,a�? said a villager, Bambanani Ndlovu.

Ndlovu added that there were some strange occurrences in the village such as the death of one child who allegedly drowned in a river but her body was never found. All that blame is attributed to the alleged mysterious snake.

Ndlovu insisted that the village head was responsible.

a�?What made us sure that the snake belongs to him is that he went to seek assistance on how to get rid of it from witch-hunters that had come all the way from Tsholotsho to have an all-nightA� session at his neighboura��s place,a�? he added.

But the village head laughed off the allegations as hate campaign.

a�?People are lying because they are after my title. I wasna��t born here but I came from Filabusi,a�? said Mdlongwa.

He claims to have only attended a cleansing ceremony just like every other villager.

a�?I didna��t ask for help from the witch-hunters but I attended an all-night session just like any other villager,a�? he added.

Mdlongwa said he was surprised the following morning when witch-hunters came to his homestead saying they wanted to find a humongous snake he kept inside a bottle.

a�?They turned my house upside down looking for the snake but they did not find it until they went to one of my huts which I only use for storing old clothes,a�? said Mdlongwa.

However, they didna��t get access to the hut and allegedly cooked up a story.

a�?I failed to get the keys to the hut they wanted to open which led them to conclude that I was involved in witchcraft,a�? added Mdlongwa.

His wife Oprah Mpofu said instead of accusing her husband they should ask questions about mysterious conduct by other villagers.

a�?Those are pure lies. These people hate us, why dona��t they focus on Kheswa who abandoned his homestead, they must ask him why he abandoned it?a�? said Mpofu.