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Weekender Reporter
A MARANGE businesswoman who recently had unwelcome visitors in the form of a coven of witches is yet to open her shop a month after the scary incident.
In an interview last week, the businesswoman, Tabeth Machikamhuru Chiomba said before she came face to face with a naked woman in her shop, she was recording poor sales, something she attributed to witchcraft.
She said this is the reason behind the closure of most shops at Chingome Business Centre in Marange.
Chiomba said the traditional leadership in the area also asked her to temporarily close shop as they get to the bottom of the issue.
“I am not operating as I was ordered to do so by the local traditional leadership. We were summoned to Chief Marange’s court last week on Wednesday, but the matter could not be heard. I will wait until I am given the green light to open by the traditional leadership,” she said in a telephone interview last week.
Narrating the events leading to the “crash-landing” of a suspected witch, Synodia Matenga, in her shop, Chiomba said: “I have been operating my business here for the past three months. Business was booming during the first few days.
“Thereafter, I started recording record low sales. At times, I would cash a US$1 or less a day. I scratched my head for answers, but all was in vain. That is when I realised that something was wrong.
“I thought of adding a canteen to my business profile and hired a woman from the local community, little did I know that she was a madzimai from an apostolic sect. There are two rooms at the shop, one at the back and the one in the shop that I use.
“I was sleeping in my room with my boyfriend on that fateful night when I heard a deafening sound on the door. My partner was fast asleep and I had to wake him up. He brushed everything aside and went back to sleep.
“However, within minutes I came face-to-face with the naked woman (Synodia Matenga) as she was sitting on the shop’s counter. I was so scared but I managed to wake up my partner and he was also at a loss of words. We dressed up and called my employee (madzimai).
“When madzimai came out, she manifested and said the honeymoon was over for the thieving witches who were behind my failing business. She said the power of her prayers had trapped the witch, adding that the witch’s colleagues had managed to escape. Madzimai said she had locked the witch to remain rooted where she was and true to her words, the witch could not move an inch.”
She said madzimai revealed that 10 thieving witches were visiting the shops at the business centre at night to steal groceries and money, as well as cast spells, thereby resulting in the poor sales.
“We informed the traditional leadership and the witch was taken to Headman Chiadzwa’s homestead. Other villagers positively identified her and her relatives were summoned and took her back home.
“Although we are yet to resume our business, madzimai tells me that the witches are still coming as they are itching for revenge. However, she is keeping them at bay through her supplication.
“Very few shops are still operating here and this might explain the drop in business. Underworld activities are real, but this will not deter me from continuing with my business. I am now more determined to excel and shame all detractors and enemies of progress if I am given the nod to resume operations,” said Chiomba.
When Matenga was discovered in the shop, a video and her pictures went viral on various social media platforms as she sat at the business centre while naked.
Matenga later opened up, highlighting that she had entered the shop with nine other colleagues on their mission to bewitch Chiomba.
Matenga revealed that she had an altercation with her nine colleagues who then decided to leave her behind.
Headman Chiadzwa said: “We were shocked to learn that Matenga had been dumped by her colleagues during their witchcraft mission. This is shocking, how did they even enter the shop?
“We summoned her to my court and we established that she had flown from Buhera for the mission. We gathered that she may have left Buhera the previous day and they were on a mission to bewitch, not this family alone, but other targets. We managed to call her relatives and she was taken back to Buhera.”.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association (Zinatha) president, George Kandiero said: “This is a clear case of witchcraft. However, she was caught inside the shop stark naked because maybe the shop is protected. The family is lucky to have caught her in the act.”
Online Reporter