Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A CHIMANIMANI woman has been vindicated after it was revealed in court that the alleged spiritual manifestations haunting her family were stage-managed out of jealousy by her co-wives and stepdaughter.
Their church’s prophets unravelled the truth following Chief Saurombe’s directive that the family seek spiritual counsel after the husband, Peter Mungabiya refused to consult traditional healers.
The matter appeared before Chief Saurombe’s community court last Sunday, where Chipo Machaya emotionally recounted how she was falsely accused of bewitching her late daughter, Emilia.
The accusations had torn the family apart, with Mungabiya, a polygamist with seven wives, siding with his fourth wife, Sarah Mushini and her daughter, Tamari, who claimed to be possessed by Emilia’s restless spirit.
After four church prophets were consulted, it was revealed that Tamari and her mother had faked the possessions to tarnish Machaya’s image and push her out of the marriage.
The prophets declared that Tamari had staged the possessions, using the knowledge of the family’s secrets to make her claims more believable.
“When the prophets revealed the truth, I could not believe it. I asked my husband why he would believe such lies. It hurts because people still view me as a witch.
“I have been exonerated. The prophets told the whole family that I am not a witch. It was his wife who connived with her daughter out of jealousy to peddle the lies.
“She started faking it until everyone believed her wild claims. I want to know why my husband believed his daughter’s wild claims,” said Machaya with tears in her eyes during last Sunday’s court session.
This was after Mungabiya had refused to consult traditional healers as had been suggested by Chief Saurombe, citing his religious beliefs, opting to visit church prophets.
“I was doubtful about whether the prophets at church would be fair in their handling of this delicate issue because previously they had sided with my husband as he has a higher position in church.
“However, they were very fair in bringing out the truth, and telling everyone that I was being falsely accused. Hopefully my husband will now accept that I am not a witch, and did not kill my own daughter. That accusation did not make any sense,” charged the woman.
Machaya, the third wife, explained how Emilia died during childbirth at Johane Marange Apostolic Church Shrine in Mafararikwa two years ago, allegedly due to delayed medical attention.
A few months later, Tamari began exhibiting violent behaviour, claiming to be possessed by Emilia’s spirit. She also accused Machaya of witchcraft, demanding that rituals be performed to cleanse the family.
“My co-wife’s daughter, Tamari, came home in October screaming, claiming that she was possessed by Emilia’s spirit. She said Emilia’s spirit was not at rest because I had killed her.
“My husband consulted healers together with Tamari, her mother, and brother without informing me, even though I was the one being accused,” Machaya told the court.
Machaya’s frustration grew as she narrated how she was ostracised within the family, with even the youngest children calling her a witch.
“I became the family’s black sheep. No one liked me anymore. My brother tried to intervene, but my husband dismissed him,” she said.
Mungabiya, who holds a senior position in their church had insisted that the matter be handled within the church.
“I will not allow my family to consult healers outside our church. This woman no longer listens to me; she is now big-headed,” he had argued, even expressing displeasure that Machaya had taken the issue to the traditional court.
Despite the revelations, Mungabiya remained reluctant to accept the truth.
“I only wanted the matter to be resolved. I did what I thought was best for my family.
“However, I am still in doubts, and think that she had something to do with what was happening in my family,” he said, avoiding directly apologising to Machaya.
In his ruling, Chief Saurombe warned Mungabiya and his wives that further false accusations against Machaya could lead to serious penalties.
“This court will not tolerate lies and false accusations. Let this be a lesson to everyone.
“As a husband of seven wives, you should be responsible for your wives and put them in line as they are fighting out of jealousy” he said.
Chief Saurombe ordered Mushini to pay one beast as damages to Machaya, concluding that she was the one who connived with her daughter to fake the manifestations and accuse Machaya of killing her own daughter.
Online Reporter