Owls cause stir at Renkini

Gibson Mhaka
BUSINESS came to a halt at the Renkini long distance bus terminus in Bulawayo when passengers, touts and bus crews flocked to catch a glimpse of four owls stashed in a box that was part of luggage on a bus arriving from Nkayi.

The incident which is still the talk of the ever busy bus terminus sparked fears of witchcraft last Saturday afternoon.

The haunting incident also sparked different versions with some superstitious members of the public reportedly claiming that the owner of the nocturnal birds was on a witchcraft expedition.

Traditionally, or in some African cultures owls are associated with witchcraft practices.

According to a witness, Lawrence Guzha the shocking discovery was made when the conductor of a bus company, whose name is being withheld, was offloading the luggage upon their arrival from Nkayi.

Guzha said when the conductor was offloading the luggage he opened the box which had the nocturnal birds thinking they were chickens.

The conductor wanted to ascertain if the chickens were alive so he could charge the owner the luggage fee.

a�?What happened is that when the conductor of the bus was offloading luggage he asked the owner of the box to wait for him so he could properly charge him or her after ascertaining that the chickens had not suffocated along the way.

a�?A granny who had earlier on claimed the box was hers later changed her story after the conductor had insisted on checking the condition of the chickens. While the conductor was still busy with other peoplea��s luggage the woman who sensed danger exploited the opportunity and disappeared.

a�?When the conductor finally opened the box he was startled to discover that it was in fact, four owls and not chickens,a�? said Guzha.

The conductor is said to have screamed attracting the attention of passengers, touts and other bus crew members who rushed to the scene to see what was happening.

a�?Everyone who gathered at the scene was shocked to see the owls. As people were struggling to come to terms with the discovery two of the owls flew off. Different versions were coined by people with some suggesting that the owner was on a witchcraft expedition,a�? he said.

Another witness who identified himself as Mthokozisi said the remaining two owls were taken to a market in Makokoba popularly as Mkambo where they were reportedly sold to one of the traditional healers operating there.