Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A FEMALE traditional healer has dragged her former in-laws to Chief Makoni’s community court after being accused of dabbling in witchcraft and planting charms at their homestead.
Tambudzai Victoria Mushinga, the complainant, alleges that her ex-husband’s younger brother, Takudzwa Abraham, defamed her by publicly labelling her a witch, and accusing her of possessing supernatural powers to weaken traditional leaders.
She insisted that the accusations were malicious and stemmed from her refusal to vacate the family homestead following her divorce.
Mushinga told the court that on December 24, 2025, Takudzwa and his mother confronted her at Sekuru Kupfuma’s homestead, where she was assisting with household chores.
According to her testimony, Takudzwa accused her of engaging in “underworld activities” and claimed she had powers to silence village heads. The confrontation escalated when Takudzwa allegedly assaulted her with a stick, prompting her to file a police report.
The matter was first heard in court on February 2. The following day, Mushinga says Takudzwa, accompanied by her former husband, an aunt, and a niece, ordered her to leave the homestead, arguing that she had embarrassed the family by taking their mother to court.
She pleaded to leave the next morning since it was already dark, but negotiations broke down when Takudzwa accused her of planting evil charms (makona) around the homestead and threatened further violence if she remained.
“I left that night, but when I returned the following day, I found my doors locked. I reported the matter to the magistrates’ court, and the doors were only opened after eight days. I have since left the homestead,” she told the court.
She further argued that her former husband and aunt were fully aware of her work as a healer, which she began while living in Warren Park, Harare.
She maintains that her practice is legitimate and not linked to witchcraft, and that the accusations have tarnished her reputation in the community.
Takudzwa denied ever labelling Mushinga a witch, and said his family was not comfortable with her practices, which they did not believe in.
“I returned from South Africa when I heard that Tambudzai was dabbling in the manjuzu cult and was brewing beer at the homestead. This homestead belongs to our grandfather. I confronted her over the issue, but she denied the allegations.
“However, several people flocked to the homestead seeking help from her. She is also collecting rentals from our family property and using it for the upkeep of her children and parents. We told her to leave our homestead since she had separated with our brother. Their marriage did not produce a child, and she was now partaking in traditional healing.
“She insisted that she would not leave. She assaulted my mother, but she did not make a police report. She went on to perform her traditional ceremony at my aunt’s homestead, which is about 200 metres from our homestead. I went there and found her washing dishes. We quarrelled, and she attempted to attack me with a three-legged pot. I retaliated by assaulting her with a stick.
“She reported me to the police and also obtained a peace order, barring me from setting foot on our homestead. I never said she is a witch, but she should practice her traditional healing away from our homestead,” Takudzwa told the court.
After lengthy deliberations, the court found Takudzwa guilty of labelling the woman a witch.
It noted that Takudzwa viewed traditional healers as witches.
He was fined three goats and ordered to meet Mushinga’s US$65 cost of the lawsuit.
“Takudzwa and his family labelled Tambudzai a witch because they did not approve of her role as a traditional healer. They also did this in order to divorce her.
“Takudzwa also assaulted her, which further proves that he was so annoyed by her. There is a difference between a traditional healer and a witch. We are a traditional court, and we should protect healers from being vilified and victimised. Being possessed by a spirit medium does not mean one is evil,” ruled the court.
