Peace at last as invisible hand ‘disappears’

 

Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent

 

A NYANGA family that was being tormented for two years by an invisible hand that was allegedly snatching utensils from their hands each time they attempted to prepare a meal is now enjoying peace after appeasing the spirit of a late freedom fighter.

 

The elderly Josphat Mapfidza’s family who had deserted him because of the mishaps have since returned home.

 

This was after Mapfidza paid a compensation of eight herd of cattle to the Tsvito family.

 

Mapfidza was being accused of stealing a bag containing stones collected from where the late freedom fighter, Cde Collins Tsvito’s remains had been collected for reburial.

 

Inside the bag were also 400 litres fuel coupons, US$40 and bank cards.

 

The money and fuel coupons had been given to Cde Tsvito’s son, Collins (Junior), by the Fallen Heroes’ Trust of Zimbabwe to facilitate the exhumation and reburial of the late liberation war hero.

 

For the past two years, the Mapfidzas were only eating rice as the invisible hand would snatch cooking sticks from anyone who tried to cook sadza.

 

Upon consulting traditional healers, the Mapfidza family was told that they were in possession of a stolen bag containing the late Cde Tsvito’s belongings.

 

“I mistook the bag for mine at Chief Saunyama’s court and went home with it. I only realised that it was not mine while in Nyanga town, but then it was too late for me to come back with it,” claims Mapfidza.

 

ln addition to the invisible hand, Mapfidza says he was seeing images of fallen liberation war heroes.

 

“I was seeing images of fallen liberation war heroes daily and they were instructing me to bring back their friend’s head. They would threaten to stay with me until l complied,” he said.

 

The Weekender caught up with the Mapfidza’s nephew, Marvellous Nyatondo, who played a major role in the appeasement process.
Nyatondo confirmed that normalcy has returned to the Mapfidza family.

 

“My aunt is now back home with her grandchildren after deserting my uncle because of Cde Tsvito’s spirit which was tormenting everyone at the homestead.

 

“At first she went to her maternal home before going to stay with her children in Harare,” said Nyatondo.

 

“I was at the Mapfidza homestead last night and we enjoyed some sadza. Nothing strange happened as it was being prepared,” he said.