Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A LONG-BREWING feud within the Pamwa family erupted dramatically at Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday, after shocking claims surfaced that a traditional healer had secretly gathered two kilogrammes of soil from relatives’ graves — and spirited it away to South Africa without the family’s consent.
The atmosphere in Chief Mutasa’s courtroom crackled with tension as members of the Pamwa family hurled accusations of grave desecration and clandestine rituals carried out at their ancestral cemetery.
Relatives alleged that, for years, secret ceremonies had been performed, tombstones erected without consultation, and traditional healers engaged in covert practices — actions they claim shattered trust and deepened divisions within the family.
Testifying before the chief, Wilfred Pamwa, recounted how suspicions of spiritual interference first arose after his sister’s sudden and mysterious death in Marondera.
He said she had spoken of unsettling spiritual encounters in the days leading up to her passing, fuelling fears that the family’s sacred sites had been disturbed.
The allegations have left the Pamwa clan bitterly divided: some demanding accountability for what they see as a violation of hallowed ground, while others defended the rituals as acts of protection and healing.
Wilfred added that, shortly before her death, his sister believed a stone had been hurled into her home — not physically striking her, but wounding her spiritually.
“She did not see where it landed, but felt pain inside her body,” he said, adding that her passing prompted the family to consult healers over suspected hidden spiritual issues.
Wilfred said one healer claimed the family’s problems stemmed from within.
The case intensified after they approached traditional healer, Sekuru Shingirai Mukotsanjera, who warned that two kilogrammes of soil were taken from family graves to South Africa, and that urgent intervention was needed.
“After she passed away, we became deeply concerned and consulted several healers because we felt there could have been hidden spiritual issues affecting the family.
“One healer told us that the person responsible for the suffering and deaths in the family was among our relatives. Mukotsanjera told us that urgent intervention was needed because two kilogrammes of soil were collected from our family graves and taken to South Africa. That is when our uncle Joseph admitted that such an incident happened,” said Wilfred, further accusing his aunts, Joseph’s sisters of engaging in suspicious spiritual activities at the cemetery for years without informing other family members.
He further claimed that some relatives frequently visited the graves carrying containers of water allegedly used during spiritual rituals.
“There have always been strange things happening at our cemetery. Our aunt once organised the erection of our father’s tombstone without consulting us. When we questioned her, she simply said he was her brother, and she had the right to do so. Our aunts would also come to the cemetery and spray water around the graves while performing rituals. That behaviour eventually made some family members uncomfortable and suspicious,” said Wilfred.
Wilfred said concerns over the activities later became serious that the family cemetery was temporarily closed.
He also made an explosive allegation that graves at the cemetery were tampered with.
“The family eventually stopped any further erection of tombstones because of strange happenings there. Every time some relatives visited the cemetery, another death would occur in the family, and people started connecting the incidents. They also opened our father’s grave, and later sent someone to collect the two kilogrammes of soil from the family graves,” he claimed.
However, a family elder, Joseph Pamwa, denied any wrongdoing, and insisted he had no intention of desecrating the family graves.
Joseph admitted that a traditional healer from South Africa visited the cemetery, sent by his brother, and collected soil from one of the graves, but maintained that it was done behind his back.
“A traditional healer came from South Africa claiming he was a close friend of the deceased, and wanted to pay his last respects. I sent my son to escort him to the cemetery not knowing what he would do.
“He later took some soil from the grave and left with it. At that moment, I did not think there was anything sinister happening until my son told me that the healer had collected soil from the graves,” he said.
Another family member, Sylvia Pamwa, accused senior family members of excluding younger relatives from important family decisions.
“Our uncles and aunties no longer involve us in family matters. They make decisions privately and shove them down our throats. That is why there is now mistrust within the family,” she said.
She added that younger family members are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with what they view as unusual activities happening at the cemetery.
Chief Mutasa urged the family to unite and work towards restoring unity and proper communication.
He challenged Joseph to assert strong leadership within the family, and avoid allowing confusion to deepen divisions among relatives.
“You are supposed to be guiding this family as the father figure. If you continue allowing confusion and divisions, this family will collapse because the younger generation will lose respect for family leadership,” said Chief Mutasa.
He also warned against side-lining younger relatives from important family matters.
“You must improve communication and involve each other in family decisions,” he said.
Chief Mutasa further advised the family to focus on rebuilding unity and completing unfinished responsibilities, including properly erecting tombstones for deceased grandparents.
ENDS
