adminLovemore Kadzura
A FEMALE Nyazura traditional healer allegedly kidnapped 13 security details and congregants from Prophet Walter Magaya’s church who had accompanied a man who wanted to return a knobkerrie (tsvimbo) to her.
Venencia Donda (50) popularly known as Mbuya Vhene of Plot One, Kairezi B in Nyazura is jointly charged with her seven aides, Mathius Donda (52), Michael Donda (45), Davison Chingwendere (45), Murahwa Bvekerwa (32), Eunice Donda (44), Esnath Wapiya (31) and Jambo Munyanyi (37)
Donda and her aides who are represented by a Harare-based lawyer from Zvimba Legal Practitioners denied ever violating Section 93 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9: 23.
Although their trial was expected to continue last Thursday, it was adjourned to next Wednesday.
Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro is presiding over the case, while Mr Tafara Chawatama is prosecuting.
Mr Chawatama said the incident happened earlier this year when the complainants went to Donda’s homestead accompanying Muchafa Jonas Mazangade who wanted to return a knobkerrie that he was given by Donda, but was now refusing to take it back.
“The complainants who are from Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries proceeded to Venencia Donda’s homestead with two Toyota Hiace vehicles to assist Mazangade to return a knobkerrie he was given by Donda.
“Donda accused Mazangade of having featured on a Yadah Television programme undermining her healing powers. She ordered her aides to block the complainants from leaving her homestead.
“Mathius Donda drove a Toyota Surf vehicle which belongs to Venencia Donda and blocked the only entrance to the homestead. The other accused persons surrounded the complainants’ vehicles. The complainants slept in the vehicles and were only released the following day at around 11am,” said Mr Chawatama.
Mazangade also told the court that the knobkerrie which he was given by Mbuya Vhene was now troubling him so he wanted to return it, but she was refusing to take it back.
He said he went to seek for spiritual healing from Prophet Magaya who wanted to burn the knobkerrie, but he refused preferring to return it to the owner.
“On 5 December 2015, I visited Venencia Donda’s homestead seeking ritual cleansing with my relatives. She gave me a knobkerrie to use for three days. After three days I went back to her with it, but she refused to take it back saying I should come back with my relatives.
“The knobkerrie was giving me problems. On December 23, 2014 I returned with my relatives, but she told me that I had breached her traditional rituals by sleeping with
my wife. I denied the allegations, but she refused to take back the knobkerrie.
“I then went to the PHD Ministries with my wife and while I was there Prophet Magaya called me and I narrated the whole story to him. Prophet Magaya wanted to burn the knobkerrie, but I refused and told him that I should return it back to the owner.
“Prophet Magaya then offered me two of his omnibuses for transport with my relatives and his church members to go and return the knobkerrie to the n’anga and that is when we were kidnapped,” he said.
Online Reporter