Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A PROTRACTED and acrimonious family feud between two Chikanga sisters has escalated, with both accusing each other of witchcraft and perpetuating mysterious deaths and illnesses within their family.
The dispute, spanning over two decades, gained prominence when Martina Samunda, accused her younger sister, Eveline, of dispatching a malevolent spirit (tokoloshi) to incapacitate her in 2013.
The bitter fallout has led to mutual accusations of bewitchment, fracturing their once-close-knit family. Each sister blames the other for personal tragedies and inexplicable afflictions.
Martina, visibly emotional, recounted her harrowing experience before Chief Mutasa’s community court last weekend, claiming her paralysis in 2013 stemmed from supernatural forces allegedly sent by Eveline.
“I fell ill in 2013 while enroute to work. I encountered a diminutive, eerie figure. I instinctively made the cross sign and rushed to work. The following morning, I felt intense pain, as if being struck with an axe on the right side of my face. That is when I became paralysed. I later fell unconsciousness,” she said.
Martina recounted that during her coma, she had a dream in which a stranger instructed her to return to her origin and revealed Eveline’s image, substantiating her conviction that the affliction was a spiritual assault orchestrated by her sister.
“When I emerged from the blackout, I was unable to walk, talk, or sit. I stayed with another sister in Dangamvura during my recuperation. We consulted traditional healers who corroborated the visions I had while hospitalised, confirming that my younger sister had indeed sent a tokoloshi to kill me,” she said.
Martina’s trauma intensified after Eveline accused her of killing their older sister, whom she had been caring for before her death.
“She manipulated her children into hating me. They began calling me a witch, blaming me for their misfortunes. Now, mysteriously, some of them are dying or losing their sanity,” she told the court, before accusing Eveline of practicing witchcraft.
“She would secretly visit her farm, allegedly to respond to her tokoloshi’s summons. Yet, she still labels me the witch. Last week, she came to my home intending to assault me. I had to call the police to intervene,” she added.
Despite her efforts to maintain cordiality, Martina said Eveline refused to acknowledge her greetings, forcing her to abandon the attempts. Eveline, however, categorically denied all the allegations, asserting that Martina was the instigator, who wrongly accused her of witchcraft.
“She once claimed that I bewitched her, causing her paralysis. Our relatives advised me to forgive her, which I did. However, this feud dates back to 2001, when she disrespected our late mother,” she explained, further attributing the conflict to Martina’s resentment towards being excluded from a familial responsibility.
“Our mother asked our sister to care for us after her passing, but Martina wanted to assume that role despite not being the eldest. She was resentful that a younger sibling had been selected for the responsibility, rather than herself. This has always been the root issue. It is regrettable that things have escalated to this point,” she said.
Chief Mutasa, after hearing both sides, expressed concern over the rift’s intensity, and urged the sisters to reunite their families for a comprehensive resolution process.
“This is clearly a deep-seated matter that has affected, not only the two of you, but your entire family. We want to help you address this animosity, allowing you to rekindle your sisterly bond.
“We require you to gather your families, children, and relatives, so that we can collectively resolve this issue,” he said.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to August 16, to enable the sisters to assemble other family members for a thorough cleansing and reconciliation.
