Is Zimbabwe ready to deal with witchcraft, satanism?

Yoliswa Dube
A SUSPECTED witch from Pelandaba caused a stir in Mpopoma suburb in Bulawayo recently after she ran out of her “witchcraft powers” and found herself at a stranger’s house.
Ellen Khayiya Mpofu, 52, was picked up by police after she invaded Patricia Tshabalala’s house just before 2AM and claimed that her friends had “dumped her”.

Dressed in a wrapping scarf with no shoes and holding a plastic bag with pieces of cloth, mysterious objects and some concoctions, Khayiya shocked Mpopoma residents who learnt that she found her way into the house through a locked door.

It is alleged that the woman had two twisted fingers on her right hand and said it was caused by opening people’s doors during her night escapades.

She bragged that she never worried about relish as she fed on human flesh and blood.
The woman, who is said to have changed voices numerous times, claimed she inherited witchcraft powers from her sister, a teacher at a local school.

In a related incident, a South African man made headlines after revealing that he had been living in fear after alleged satanists based in Zimbabwe threatened to kill his children when he refused to supply them with human body parts.

Donald Eunice, 35, of Free State in the neighbouring country narrated how he was recruited by the satanists, who he said were from a local church.

Debate has arisen on whether or not the law has provisions to deal with cases of witchcraft and satanism.
Historian and culturist Pathisa Nyathi said in the past African societies killed people accused of witchcraft.

“In the Ndebele State, cases of witchcraft were dealt with in different ways. Witches would, for example, be taken to intaba yabathakathi in Sizinda where they were killed. Witchcraft was punishable by death.

“Witchcraft and infidelity were among the few cases that warranted divorce. Witchcraft was taken seriously. Ukwanda kwaliwa ngabathakathi meaning the perpetuation and continuity of the human species could only be threatened by witches,” said Nyathi.

He said increasing cases of witchcraft were therefore very worrying to society which was forced to find ways of protecting itself from the acts of witches.

“This is why people visit traditional healers. Umuzi uyabethelwa. If we do nothing, we risk losing our lives to witchcraft. In the past the only time witches were protected from punishment was when they sought refuge at inhlambabaloyi, the maternal home of King Mzilikazi. The King could not lay a hand on you if you went there,” said Nyathi.

Today, Nyathi said, it is difficult to enforce the law on cases involving witchcraft because it is difficult to prove.
“How do you prove that I’ve bewitched you? It’s unlike a case of poisoning which can be proven easily. It’s unfortunate that our legal system works with western science. If you look at the woman in Mpopoma who confessed to opening doors with her fingers, science will tell you that it’s nonsense. You can’t make a case in court,” he said.

Nyathi said the methodology used by witches did not make sense to western science therefore whatever one cannot prove is dismissed as superstition.

“Witches will continue to be a problem because our laws cannot address challenges of witchcraft,” he said.
Nyathi said there was a need to amend the country’s laws related to witchcraft and satanism.

As it stands, the provisions of the law say a mere confession by a “witch” does not hold water in a court of law. Witches cannot be punished yet stories of witchcraft and satanists continue to make headlines.

Without empirical or tangible evidence to prove witchcraft, one cannot make a case in the courts. This, however, creates a vicious cycle. More cases of witchcraft continue to emerge yet society has no capacity to address the problem.

According to the Criminal Law and Codification Act Chapter 5 (6) “witchcraft” means a person has used, is using or is likely or able to use non-natural means to cause death, injury, disease or disability in any person.

It may also mean a person is possessed by a spirit which has caused, is causing or is likely or able to cause death or injury, disease or disability in any person as well as destruction or damage to property of any description.

Traditional healer David Muhabhinyana Ngwenya said witchcraft had always been there unlike satanism which came with the coming of the Christian religion.

“Witchcraft has always been there and satanism came with the emergence of Christianity. Witchcraft came from God because we don’t know who satan is. Any powers to practice witchcraft come from God and that’s who we can trace it back to,” he said.

Ngwenya said people who confess to practising witchcraft and satanism were not mentally challenged but should be taken seriously and offered assistance.

“Witchcraft will never end. It’s something that was created with mankind but people could pray for these spirits to leave that particular person. Also, traditional healers can be useful although it’s not every traditional healer who can rid society of such spirits,” he said.
Nyathi explained that the term “witch” was a neutral one as it refers to a craft.

“Like science, it depends on how you use it. It can be used to heal or to destroy. If we say someone is a witch, we refer to a skill but if you use that skill to kill, you’re a bad witch and vice versa,” he said.

Local magistrate who spoke on condition of anonymity said confessing to witchcraft meant nothing.
“The Criminal Law and Codification Act says the moment someone says: “I am a witch”, it doesn’t mean anything. It only becomes an offence when harm befalls another person,” he said.

He said the absence of empirical evidence is what has caused a number of “witches” to walk scot-free, even after confessing.
“Unlike death by poisoning where a postmortem can be done, it’s difficult to prove that someone died as a result of witchcraft,” said the magistrate.

The Criminal Law and Codification Act Chapter 5 (6) states that any person who engages in any practice knowing that it is commonly associated with witchcraft shall be guilty of engaging in a practice commonly associated with witchcraft.

Subject to this section, any person who groundlessly or by the purported use of non-natural means accuses another person of witchcraft shall be guilty of indicating a witch or wizard.

The dilemma then becomes that there is no way that one can have tangible evidence or “grounds” that can stand in a court of law proving that someone is a witch or satanist.