Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A BUHERA man was caught red-handed with a stash of more than 30 women’s panties which he allegedly used for disturbing “sexual bluetooth” rituals known locally as mubobobo.
The suspect, Augustine Marimo, is accused of stealing the undergarments from washing lines and bathing spots in the Nemhari area of Buhera, where unsuspecting women hang their clothes out to dry.
The explosive revelations surfaced at Headman Nemhari’s community court recently where various women and the perpetrator, Augustine Marimo as well as his mother, Fridah Chiweshe had been summoned.
One of the victims, a woman who asked not to be named for fear of stigma, said she was shocked to find one of her most cherished undergarments among the loot.
“I attended the court session out of curiosity. I thought it was just a rumour. I froze when I saw one of my panties in that sack. I had not even noticed it was missing. That pair of panties was special to me. I inherited it from my late sister. It had sentimental value and to think this man was using it for his rituals is just heart-breaking,” she said.
The woman described how Marimo allegedly used the stolen underwear in disturbing acts that he claimed allowed him to engage in sexual intercourse with women without their knowledge.
“We asked him why he had done such a thing. He told us that he puts the panties on his bed, masturbates on them and as he does that, he sees the women whose pantie he would have targeted. He said in that moment, he would be sleeping with them through mubobobo. He claimed it feels real to him,” she said.
Even more disturbing, the woman said, was how this dark ritual had devastating effects on her own marriage.
“My bedroom has become a cold grave. My husband and I have not been intimate for almost two years. It started when the panties disappeared. At first my husband would complain, asking what was wrong, but now he has given up.” she said.
She also said Marimo also confessed that he hears a voice, an unseen spiritual entity that compels him to steal the panties and use them for sexual gratification.
“He refused to disclose the identity of the voice’s owner, claiming the person warned him to remain silent or face dire consequences,” she said.
Another woman, Stella Magumbo said villagers were left stunned as women identified their missing undergarments, some of which had vanished from washing lines months or years ago, with no clue of where they had gone, until now.
“He had stashed some of the panties in his bedroom and others deep in the bushes. What shook everyone is that he had a sack full of them, like groceries. He claimed he used them to sleep with the owners spiritually.”
The women left their panties with Marimo after the discovery. His mother, Fridah Chiweshe said she never suspected her son was involved in anything so warped like this.
“I do not know where he is today, but I will make sure that he attends the next court date. The panties were found and he confessed possessing them. We have been visiting white garment prophets with him and the women he stole from so that we know how much damage he has done on them through the mubobobo,” she said.
She added that life at home had become unbearable with women coming to confront her almost daily.
Some demand the return of their underwear, others want answers she simply cannot provide.
Prophetic healers were reportedly consulted by some victims. One of the healers, Lee Makwira’s findings were chilling as they confirmed that Marimo was indeed using the undergarments in rituals believed to bind the women spiritually and sexually to him.
Although Marimo failed to appear before the court as ordered, the headman did not mince his words.
“This is bad, very bad. Stealing women’s underwear is not just a crime of theft, it is spiritual abuse. It is shameful and unacceptable,” said Headman Nemhari.
He said from the court’s perspective, it appeared that Marimo was not acting alone.
“There are signs that this man is being used by some of his relatives or someone close to him. He is not well. He needs cleansing. He must consult traditional and spiritual healers for proper rituals before this thing consumes him,” he said.
Headman Nemhari also said that the fact that he had confessed was a good start.
“It is good that he has confessed. It means there is hope for him. In cases like this, spiritual healing is necessary. That man is carrying things in his soul that need to be cast out,” said Headman Nemhari.
Marimo was summoned to appear at the next hearing.
