Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A BIZARRE dispute over a snake allegedly caught by faith healers has escalated into open hostility between two co-tenants sharing a mine house at Old West in Penhalonga.
Dennis Makandiedza reported his co-tenant, Melania Murwira, to Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday, citing deteriorating relations since a snake was spotted at the property last month — highlighting tensions in the mining community, where superstition and faith healing are prevalent.
“I share a mine house with this woman. We are both tenants at the same property. One day, word went round that a snake had been spotted at my house. I was not there at the time. When I returned home, I asked my wife why she had not informed me,” said Makandiedza, alleging that Murwira confronted him during the exchange.
“My co-tenant came out and yelled at me, saying I should confront my wife indoors. She said she had removed the snake from my house and that I should be grateful. She claimed that I am the owner of the snake, which is not true,” he said, maintaining that the situation spiralled out of control after the incident began circulating on social media.
“She is angry that people are talking, but I am the one embarrassed. The story went viral, with people saying the snake was found in my room,” he said, adding that tension between them started before she even moved in.
“About three months after she moved in, she claimed that her loaf of bread had been sliced with a razor blade, and I did not think much of it. I didn’t know that she was accusing me,” said Makandiedza.
However, Murwira painted a different picture, accusing Makandiedza of disruptive behaviour long before the snake saga.
“When I first moved in, I realised that whenever he got drunk, he would urinate in the blankets, play the radio at full blast at night and become violent towards his wife. I spoke to him about it, and he stopped for a while. We even became friends,” she told the court.
She confirmed the bread incident, but dismissed any sinister undertones.
“My loaf of bread was sliced with a razor blade, but I did not accuse anyone. My family simply ate it,” said Murwira, adding that friction resurfaced over a small business venture run by her child.
“My child was selling bags of potatoes on credit. He promised to buy some, but never did. Instead, he sprinkled anointing water from his church on the potatoes and even on me. Later, he apologised,” she said.
On the day a snake was first spotted at the house, Murwira said they were both outside.
“We were working on the verandah when we saw a black snake. Some men helped us and killed it. It was thrown into the toilet. No one accused anyone of owning it,” she said.
She further alleged an incident in which Makandiedza mistakenly entered the bathroom area.
“He got into the toilet area while I was bathing and later apologised, saying he thought it was his wife,” she said.
The dispute deepened when Murwira claimed that acts of provocation followed.
“His daughter defecated on my gas tank and said her father had sent her. My gas business also started being sabotaged, with gas being spilled out of the tanks at night,” she alleged.
Murwira linked the strange occurrences to her 19-year-old son’s recurring illness.
“My son would fall sick only when he was at home. The moment I took him elsewhere, he would recover,” she said, adding that believing the situation was spiritual, she sought help from apostolic faith healers.
“I called an apostolic healer. He said there was a snake that was spiritually tormenting my child and sleeping with him,” said Murwira, adding that events took a dramatic turn during a cleansing ritual.
“I first took the healer to my workplace for cleansing. While we were on the way, my child phoned, and said there was a snake in the house. We rushed back, and the healers caught it. The healers did not mention any owner. They simply took it away,” said Murwira, adding that Makandiedza reacted angrily the following day.
“He came home drunk and shouting that people had entered his bedroom and captured a snake. I told him clearly that the snake was found in my bedroom, not his,” she said, admitting assaulting him during the confrontation.
“He became violent and I assaulted him. Later, he apologised, and I also apologised for hitting him.
“After two days, he called his relatives and narrated everything. Now he is angry because the story has spread on social media,” said Murwira.
Chief Mutasa expressed concern over the deteriorating relations between the co-tenants.
“You are adults sharing one property. Whether the snake was physical or spiritual, fighting will not solve anything,” he said, urging them to prioritise peace.
“If you cannot live together peacefully, then one of you must look for alternative accommodation. Shared accommodation requires tolerance and respect,” he said.
