Roora row from beyond the grave

Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A WOMAN whose marriage allegedly crumbled amid mysterious spiritual disturbances has told Chief Mutasa’s court that she is being pursued by the spirit of a deceased man who was once married to her mother, and is now claiming her as his daughter.
Portia Chikaka Sithole appeared before the traditional court seeking intervention, alleging that the avenging spirit has tormented her for years, and is responsible for a string of misfortunes that have upended her life.
According to Sithole, the alleged spiritual dispute stems from her mother’s first marriage.
She told the court that her mother separated from her first husband before conceiving her and later married her biological father.
However, she claimed that the bride price (roora) paid in the first marriage was never refunded following the divorce.
Sithole said it is now alleged that the spirit of the deceased first husband is demanding restitution, and regards her as its first-born child, despite her being fathered by another man.
Narrating her ordeal, Sithole told the court that the alleged spirit has followed her throughout her life, leaving her struggling to find peace and acceptance wherever she goes.
“As a result of this spirit, my husband dumped me, saying I have evil spirits. Every time we consult traditional healers, they tell him that I am not a woman, but a man because that spirit has overtaken me in the spirit. People accuse me of things that I have never done. Everywhere I stay, I end up being blamed for problems I know nothing about because of this spirit which is still angry at my mother for leaving it, and my uncles for not refunding him his bride price,” she told the court, adding that the situation reached its lowest point when her husband allegedly took away their child.
“My husband forcibly took our child from me, saying the evil spirits surrounding me might harm the child. I have been divorced for eight months, and I am still waiting for my uncles to help resolve the issue. Instead, they keep asking me to talk to the next uncle, and now I am tired of everything,” she openly wept before the court.
Sithole said consultations with traditional healers consistently point to the same explanation.
“It is being said that the spirit of the man to whom my mother was first married is demanding his bride price back. They say when my mother married my father, her family should have refunded her ex-husband’s bride price,” she said.
She added that the alleged spirit believes it still has a legitimate claim over her because customary obligations were never fulfilled. The spirit is claiming that I am his daughter because his bride price was never refunded after my mother left him and got married elsewhere,” she said, also linking the unresolved matter to another family tragedy.
“My father committed suicide because of this spirit. This is coming out wherever we go seeking help,” she said.
Her mother’s sister, Tafadzwa Dhliwayo, confirmed that the family has been trying to resolve the matter for years.

“My sister was married before she met Chikaka Sithole. The first marriage ended before she had any children, but the family had paid bride price for her,” she said, adding that her sister later married Chikaka Sithole, with whom she started a new family, including Portia.
“She later married Chikaka Sithole, who became the father of this girl and others. Unfortunately, he also committed suicide, and it is being alleged that he did so because of disturbances linked to the spirit of my sister’s first husband,” she said.
Dhliwayo said family consultations had repeatedly produced the same explanation.
“We are being told that the spirit says Portia belongs to the first husband because the bride price paid during that first marriage was never refunded after the divorce,” she said.
According to her, the family managed to raise the money needed to refund the bride price, but has encountered an unexpected obstacle.
“We have already raised the money to compensate the first husband’s family. The only problem is that we were told the person who is supposed to physically accept the money is in Canada. The money is ready, what remains is for that family member to return home,” she said.
Chief Mutasa expressed concern that the family appeared to be delaying efforts to resolve a matter which requires urgent attention.
“If you genuinely believe this matter needs to be resolved, then stop relying on telephone calls. Go there in person,” he instructed.
He ordered Portia’s mother and members of her current family to engage the family of her former husband.
“Do not continue making calls. Go there and seek help face-to-face. Phone me from there so that we can assist you in resolving the matter properly,” he said.
Chief Mutasa said disputes involving bride price should be handled through dialogue between the families involved rather than prolonged delays.