Traditional healer kills patient

Luthando Mapepa

Chipinge Correspondent

A Chisumbanje traditional healer is in court after causing the death of her patient through sjamboking her as a way of coercing her to take some medication.

The 65-year-old traditional healer, Esther Masoja of Konjana Village, Chisumbanje, is being charged with the murder of Shaleen Chibhememe (27). Masoja was not asked to plead when she appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Franklin Mkwanazi, and was asked to apply for bail at the High Court due to the seriousness of the offence.

Masoja was granted $10 000 bail and remanded out of custody to April 22 for routine remand.

Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande said on February 29, Mr Simba Chibhememe took his mentally challenged daughter Shaleen to Masoja for treatment.

“Masoja advised Chibhememe to leave Shaleen in her custody as she wanted to monitor her. However, Shaleen refused to take the prescribed medicine,” said Mr Katsande.

Masoja allegedly whipped Shaleen all over the body, arguing that it was part of the healing process.

“Shaleen sustained wounds all over her body. Her mother, Mrs Juliet Chibhememe, visited the traditional healer’s place to monitor her daughter’s progress and was shocked to see a wounded Shaleen.

“Mrs Chibhememe took her daughter to St Peter’s Mission Hospital on March 4, where she was admitted. Shaleen died on March 8. A post mortem revealed that the wounds had caused her death,” said Mr Katsande.