Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A FAMILY in Mutasa has been thrown into turmoil after a teenager’s dramatic spiritual manifestation spiralled into accusations of ritual killings against his aunt.
The matter has since spilled into Chief Mutasa’s community court, where Emma Nesemoyo of Domborutinhira, a member of the Mhlanga family, pleaded her case, saying she has been unfairly branded a witch and ostracised by relatives and neighbours.
Nesemoyo told the court that her reputation has been left in ruins after her nephew, Blessing Mhlanga, accused her of killing five family members through wealth-enhancing rituals.
She claimed the allegations were baseless and stemmed from Blessing’s intoxicated state after a day of heavy drinking.
“I have been living in shame in this family. My name has been dragged through the mud, and I am now treated like an outcast,” she lamented.
She recounted the events of December 26, 2025, the day after Blessing allegedly spent hours drinking beer with friends.
According to her, Blessing had come to her shop earlier that day asking for firewood to braai meat.
She obliged, but later that night, she received a frantic call urging her to rush home.
“When I arrived, I was shocked by what I saw. Blessing was kicking my doors, shouting that there were ghosts inside my house. He was screaming my name, accusing me of using charms to acquire wealth,” she said.
Nesemoyo explained that the accusations were made in front of family members and a self-proclaimed prophet who had been invited to witness the manifestation.
“Blessing and his family were seated in my bedroom with the prophet, watching as he screamed my name. They claimed that I had killed five people in the family so that I could become wealthy. These accusations have destroyed my dignity and reputation in society,” she said.
She insisted that the allegations went beyond mere insults, amounting to criminal defamation that has left her socially isolated and emotionally scarred.
Nesemoyo appealed to Chief Mutasa’s court for justice, saying she could no longer bear the humiliation of being publicly labelled a witch.
She told Chief Mutasa that what troubled her most was the pattern that followed the incident.
“After that day, many people started manifesting different spirits of angry dead relatives. To me, it all looks stage-managed,” she said.
Nesemoyo alleged that some family members appeared to be working in cohorts to push a negative narrative against her.
“They demand that we consult a traditional healer (name withheld). But when I agreed— because I also wanted to clear my name — they backtracked,” she said, adding that she was eager for a proper spiritual investigation to clear her name.
“I want this matter resolved properly. I want to be cleansed if there is anything wrong, but I believe these accusations are being manufactured,” said Nesemoyo.
Prince Mhlanga, a senior figure in the family, supported Nesemoyo’s claim that alcohol played a role in the alleged manifestation.
“Blessing has only manifested a spirit once, while he was drunk,” Prince told the court, adding that there were no other incidents of possession before or after that night.
“This thing has never happened again. It only happened when he had been drinking the whole day,” he said.
Chief Mutasa questioned why the alleged spirit had failed to manifest before the court.
“If a spirit is genuine, it does not choose when to appear,” the chief said, noting that despite the dramatic accusations, no manifestation occurred during court proceedings.
“This court cannot rely on a spirit that only appears when alcohol is involved,” said Chief Mutasa.
As a result, the chief ordered the family to consult a neutral traditional healer to determine whether the incident involved a genuine spiritual manifestation or was influenced by alcohol and hallucinations.
“The family must go and consult a healer. We need clarity on whether this was a spirit or the alcohol speaking,” ruled Chief Mutasa, further warning against reckless accusations of witchcraft, saying they often destroy families beyond repair.
“Calling someone a witch is not a small matter. It brings shame, fear and violence,” he said.
After consulting a healer outside the court, the alleged spirit still failed to manifest, further deepening divisions within the family, raising serious questions about the credibility of the accusations.
The matter was adjourned as the family, already split into opposing camps, was ordered to reflect and return with clear findings, as the court sought to protect both truth and family unity.
The chief also urged families to resolve disputes responsibly and not weaponise spirituality for personal or financial motives.
