adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
SOME traditional healers have been accused of fuelling rape crimes by lying to people that sleeping with virgins cures diseases and brings riches.
Padare/Enkundleni Men’s Forum chairman for Bulawayo province Mehluli Ndlovu yesterday said through engaging men they had established that some men raped girls after being misled by traditional healers.
“A number of men told us that traditional healers were telling them that if they wanted to be cured of illness or wanted to become rich they should sleep with virgins,” said Ndlovu.
He said innocent girls were therefore being sacrificed by these fake healers.
“Lives of innocent girls are being ruined by men who believe these fake healers,” said Ndlovu.
Padare/Enkundleni’s programmes officer Ziphongezipho Ndebele said some traditional healers also claimed that sleeping with virgins cures HIV.
Traditional healers who were contacted for comment yesterday dismissed the allegations saying the claims were made by rapists who were looking for scapegoats.
One of the traditional healers, David Mhabhinyana Ngwenya said genuine healers were against rape of girls and would not mislead people. “There is no genuine healer who tells people to rape girls in order to get cured. If a traditional healer does that we want to know so that he or she can be disciplined by our association,” said Ngwenya.
Another traditional healer Beauty Nyoni said they referred all their HIV positive clients to clinics and not to virgins.
Online Reporter