a�?I killed my 8 kids, 5 step-childrena��

Danisa Masuku
WHO from the chosen shall I pick?

The words sound like lyrics from a 90s rap song but they ring in the heads of members of a family based in Nkayi, where 13 members have so far died because the family head and her crew of witches sacrifice their own.

Happenings at Mchemo village in Gampakalale area, Sikobokobo under Chief Sikobokoboa��s jurisdiction are hard to believe. But with a confession from Josphine Mpofu, therea��s no reason not to believe she is behind the death of 13 of her family members.

a�?I didna��t kill them alone.A� We are a group of four and it was my turn to kill my children. I had no choice because failure to do so I wasA� going to be killed,a�? Josephine Mpofu told B-Metro at the same time declaring that she wanted to leave the secret society.

Mpofu opened up when her eldest son Genius Mpofu, troubled by family happenings, sought a witch-hunter to solve the mystery.

She explained how they kill their people.

a�?We mix soil from a grave with water then spray it on our prey in their sleep,a�? she said.

The targeted person will feel dizzy and then die a few days later.

In some cases, Josephine said they would give them food laced with crocodile bile.

However, a professor in pharmacology, Norman Nyazema last year while addressing a Health Journalistsa�� Association of Zimbabwe (HeJAZ) workshop in Harare dismissed as a myth the widespread belief that crocodile bile was one of the most lethal poisons which could kill with just a small dose.

Whatever the case, Josephine recounted the number of deaths credited to her since joining the cult in 2002.

a�?I have killed eight children and five step-children almost every year up to now,a�? she said. She is left with 15 grandchildren and they are all in danger.

a�?I have 15 grandchildren and I used to take turns to ride on them in conducting the witchcraft practice,a�? she added.

Last week one of her children, Smally Mpofu, died in a mysterious way. The main suspect was Luck Mpofu, his wife.

But the latest developments exonerate her.

a�?He died last week after complaining of a stomach ache. His relatives accused me of having a hand in it, but I thank the prophet and the spiritual healer for exonerating me,a�? said Luck.

Genius Mpofu hopes that his mothera��s killing spree would come to an end with the help of the prophets.

a�?I hope the prophet would cleanse this homestead and cast away the bad spirit of death,a�? he said, adding that he had paid six cows and he was reportedly next in line.

Prophet Phumulani Msipha said he killed three weird things.

a�?I killed three strange cats. At first she begged me not to kill them but her children said I should kill them. I also burnt her fly-whisk (itshoba), a stick and her muthi,a�? he said.

The Village Head, Nkosana Mpofu confirmed the incident.

a�?She admitted to killing her children and apologised for her actions as she said she feared that if this continued she would wipe off the whole family,a�? he said. .