Son accuses father of witchcraft

Tinashe Hazvide
ANGERED by his father’s alleged witchcraft shenanigans saw an Odzi man (27) torching his father’s four huts claiming that they housed goblins that were tormenting him and his family.

Godfrey Zvotoona of Village 29, Mt Zonwe, Odzi, appeared before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura pleading guilty to the charges he was facing of torching his father’s huts as defined in Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 (malicious damage of property).

Mr Douglas Matiure prosecuted.

He told the court that on July 5, 2013 at around 5pm, Godfrey, who stayed with his father, arrived home drunk and threatened to kill his father if he fails to release him from the spell he had cast on him.

“His brother, Tawanda, came to the rescue of his father and manhandled Godfrey. He dragged him from the house, but he managed to escape and returned home during the night.

“He set the four thatched huts and one granary which had 6kg of rice, 10x50kg bags of maize, kitchen utensils and clothes on fire.

“The complainant hid in a gulley before proceeding to make a report to the village head.

“The village head together with other villagers tried to apprehend Godfrey, but he fled to an unknown destination. The complainant then reported the matter to the police the following day and he has been on the run since that day up to now when he was finally arrested.

“The estimated value of damaged property is $550 and the accused acted unlawfully,” said Mr Matiure.

In his defence, Godfrey said he had consulted a traditional healer who had advised him that his father housed goblins in one of the huts that were responsible for his misfortunes.

“I was advised that my father had goblins that were responsible for my misfortunes so I threatened him hoping that he would release me from the spell.

“I later returned and burnt his huts because I was hurt that my own father could do that to me,” he claimed.

Godfrey was sentenced to 30 months in jail.

Seven months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant the sum of $550.

Other five months were suspended on condition he does not commit the same offence in the next five months.