Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MYSTERIOUS death in Chimanimani has taken a shocking turn after the widow, claiming to be haunted by her husband’s ghost, accused his former “side chick” of orchestrating his murder.
Theressa Chikati, the widow of the late John Saurombe, made the chilling accusations against Esther Nzira Muyambo, her husband’s former mistress, at Chief Muusha’s community court last Saturday.
Chikati alleged that Muyambo, aided by her new boyfriend, a local businessman, poisoned Saurombe to death.
According to Chikati, Saurombe’s spirit revealed his cause of death to his friends before he passed away, sparking a web of suspicion and intrigue.
“When my husband died, I was devastated. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened afterwards. I started seeing him, not in dreams, but in reality. He would appear in the house and stand by the door, silent, but present.
I knew it was him. He kept tormenting me, urging me to speak to his friends, claiming they knew what had happened to him,” said Chikati in court.
Chikati revealed that she approached the friends her husband had confided in, and they confirmed her growing suspicions.
They told her that Saurombe had expressed fears that he would be murdered before his death.
“They told me that before his death, he made them promise to reveal the truth if anything happened to him.
“They kept quiet out of fear, but after hearing I was being haunted, they opened up. They said Muyambo tried to end the affair after finding a new lover, a local businessman. However, my husband could not accept the rejection and refused to let her go,” she said, further alleging that Muyambo conspired with her new lover to poison Saurombe, luring him with a poisoned meal of sadza and chicken.
The matter remained a closely guarded secret within the community until the Muyambo family approached the Saurombe family with a revelation.
They claimed Esther, now seriously ill, was being tormented by Saurombe’s avenging spirit.
Village head Muusha confirmed receiving word from both families, explaining how the case reached his court.
“The Muyambo family went to the Saurombe homestead, saying Esther had been admitted to hospital. But while there, she kept crying and screaming, claiming that Saurombe was trying to kill her.
“She was, not just hallucinating, but would speak of him in ways that only someone who had a deep connection with him could. Her family even took her to a traditional healer, who told them that if they truly wanted her to recover, they had to find closure for Saurombe’s death,” he said.
The healer allegedly advised the Muyambo family to acknowledge Esther’s wrongdoing formally and appease Saurombe’s avenging spirit.
This prompted the Muyambo family to approach the Saurombe family with a desperate plea to make amends.
Esther’s brother, Modern Muyambo, appeared before Chief Muusha, openly admitting his sister’s guilty in the incident.
“As a family, we acknowledge the community’s whispers about Esther’s role in Saurombe’s death. I have paid US$1 as a token of admission of guilty.
“We await a traditional healer’s guidance on what Saurombe’s spirit demands. Esther’s illness is worsening with each passing day, and we seek to make amends,” he said.
The matter was adjourned indefinitely, pending the healer’s guidance and the return of Saurombe’s spirit with its demands.
