adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
VILLAGERS from Bulilima District ganged up against a traditional healer from their area and beat him up after he axed their neighbour’s dog and drank its blood as part of a ritual to appease his ancestors.Valani Nkomazana, 40, arrived in Figtree area, took his uncle’s dog while he was away and axed it.
He was later found by the uncle drinking its blood.
The uncle alerted villagers who armed themselves with bricks and logs and attacked Nkomazana.
Three of the villagers, Sizani Dube, 36, Sibangilizwe Ncube, 37, and Bernard Sibanda, 29, appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon facing charges of assaulting Nkomazana.
They all pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to November 24 for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Clemence Shawira said Nkomazana who has a record of mental instability, went to his uncle’s homestead in Jeqe Village and axed the dog on November 8.
He said the uncle caught him drinking the dog’s blood and demanded an explanation.
The court heard that Nkomazana told his uncle that his ancestors had demanded dog blood.
Shawira said word started spreading that Nkomazana had axed a dog at his uncle’s homestead and drank its blood and that he had threatened to shed more blood.
This prompted the villagers to pursue Nkomazana as they feared that he could harm people.
“The three accused persons who were in the company of other villagers followed the complainant and started assaulting him using logs and bricks.
“They accused him of causing problems within the community and burning down several homesteads in their area,” said Shawarira.
Shawira said the complainant was rescued by a member of the neighbourhood watch committee who was passing through the area.
The court heard that the neighbourhood watch committee member later handcuffed Nkomazana before taking him to the police station.
The accused persons in their statements said the complainant is the one who attacked them with bricks and logs.
Online Reporter