Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
A MAKONI villager has approached the magistrates’ court challenging the decision by a community court that found him guilty of acquiring goblins from a controversial Nyanga-based healer.
The goblins have been blamed for allegedly making his neighbour’s child sick.
Tawa Sanhani was ordered by Chief Makoni’s community court to foot the bill of a cleansing ceremony to get rid of the goblins he allegedly acquired from a controversial traditional healer based in Nyanga.
He was ordered to provide three beasts, three goats and US$100 for the cleansing ceremony.
Sanhani, represented by Tendai Bvuma, has since lodged an appeal at the Rusape Civil Court appealing against the findings of the community court, which held him liable making Esnara Soda’s daughter sick.
“The appellant was held liable for possessing goblins that were causing the sickness of the respondent’s daughter and the appellant was ordered to pay six beasts, three goats and US$100.
“The community erred at law in using duress and undue influence to force the appellant to admit to purely malicious and unfounded claims against him.
“The court a quo erred at law in ruling that the appellant was responsible for the sickness of respondent’s daughter without any positive proof to that effect.
“The court a quo erred at law in coming up with a purely extortionate judgment demanding three cattle, three goats and US$100 for the alleged cleansing of the appellant’s homestead when there was no evidence adduced in the first place to show that there were goblins or sickness that justified the cleansing of the appellant’s homestead,” reads part of the application.
In her response Soda claimed that Sanhani told the community court that he acquired the goblins.
She also said such cases can only be competently tried at the community court, which uses spirit mediums to detect the truth.
“In these hearings the chief often relied on traditional healers to consult the spirit and identify the person responsible for the perceived curse or supernatural attack and the appellant agreed that he possessed the goblin acquired from the healer which is now causing illness to my daughter.
“The applicant’s transgression in the community is not right and is destroying the community by causing illness.
“This honourable court has no jurisdiction to entertain this matter rather it the local court which can preside over this matter.
“The applicant agreed that he possesses goblin which he acquired from the traditional healer,” responded Soda.
The matter is yet to be allocated a magistrate and trial date.
