adminTinomuda Chakanyuka
SETTLING in a decently built rural home with a modest complement of livestock after retiring from years of toiling industries in the metropolis is always a dream come true for many elderly Zimbabweans. Retired old people leading such lives are an envy of many a rural folk. They are often seen as the epitome of hard work and wisdom, occupying the high spots on social strata. Such statuses however, come with a fair share of curses within the same rural set up.
While being envied, such “successful” old people are often accused, by their less privileged kith and kin, of sorcery and using voodoo to amass wealth. Stereotypes largely drawn from folktale that witches and wizards are mostly aged worsen the plight of the elderly in rural areas, rich or poor.
With tsikamutandas, traversing the length and breadth of the country, flushing out goblins and sorcerers among villagers, elderly people are common targets. It is no coincidence that these witch-hunters confine their acts to rural areas only. Hardly, if ever do they perform their “wonders” in urban set ups.
Often with the blessings of local leadership, some, who are day time robbers, dressed in prophets’ clothes, force themselves onto households where they, in most cases if not all, unearth strange things.
They “unearth” pythons, voodoo dolls, horns with beads among other paraphernalia associated with sorcery, which they claim are used by mothers to eat their children, fathers to bewitch their neighbours, uncles and aunts to cast spells on their nieces and nephews.
Tsikamutandas have, through their questionable powers, amassed a fortune to the detriment of hoodwinked households, leaving a trail of destruction on people’s relations wherever they go.
These witch-hunters have been camping in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North province for the past three months.
There is a gnashing of teeth among the elderly in the community who are an easy target of these characters.
For treatment of diseases the witch-hunters demand payment in chickens or goats, while for exorcism they demand a cow per homestead depending of course on what they would have removed.
It does not concern them whether a person has one cow, once they have “exorcised” a household of “evil spirits” they claim their payment. They claim to be prophets using God’s power to rid communities of evil, a debatable claim.
But what is however, apparent is that they have indeed been “robbing” many families in Ntabaziduna of their hard earned possessions. Interestingly, the witch-hunters have opened a thriving butchery at Ntabazinduna growth point, off the proceeds from their to-dos.
Timid villagers are expressing dismay, albeit in hushed voices for fear of censure as the witch-hunters are in the area allegedly at the behest of Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni. However, Chief Ndiweni could not be reached for comment as he was said to be out of the country. Others are taking part in the rituals reluctantly for fear of ostracism. Despite the ingenuity and entrepreneurial manoeuvres shown by tsikamutandas, earning them a few admirers in Ntabazinduna, 68-year-old Mrs Snodia Mbewe of Mdlela Village, regrets their coming into the area.
“I lost my only cow to these tsikamutandas,” said the widowed grandmother of four.
“They performed their rituals and removed some strange things from my field which they claimed were planted by some of my relatives to cause misfortune in my life.”
Mrs Mbewe, just like many of her villagers could not bar the witch-hunters from performing rituals at her homestead for fear of being evicted from the area by the local leaders. Mrs Mbewe is not alone in this predicament. Dozens of other villagers in Madlela, Mavolunteer, Mafanisa, Gwenyugwenyu, Bhekeni, Gondeni and Mgiqwa villages have lost countless livestock ranging from cattle, goats and poultry to the witch-hunters. Most of the villagers who have lost livestock are aged.
Another victim from Mavolunteer, who however, refused to be named for fear of victimisation said the witch-hunters forced themselves into his house claiming that he owned a goblin.
“The witch-hunters just came and claimed that I had a goblin which I was using to enrich myself. They turned my house upside down, searched every corner and suddenly fished out a live hare with beads tied all over around it, claiming it was the goblin. I don’t know anything about that and all my life I have never been to any traditional healer whatsoever. For whatever they did they demanded a cow,” he said.
The witch-hunters however, met their match in Mrs Sarah Sithole of Mgiqwa village, who refused them entry into her homestead to perform their rituals. Mrs Sithole who is 70 years old and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church said she barred the witch-hunters from her homestead because their practice was against her faith.
“I never invited the tsikamutandas here, so I told them to leave. They said they had seen something at my homestead which they wanted to remove but I refused because I know that there is nothing. Besides it is against my religious beliefs to take part in such activities,” she said.
Even traditional leaders in the area have also fallen victim to the witch-hunters. Mavolunteer village head Mr Joseph Dube lost three goats to the witch-hunters whom he said were treating him of his swollen right leg which he had battled with for over five years. Mr Dube said he was opposed to the idea of witch-hunters operating in his area but was left with no choice after being allegedly instructed to accept them by Chief Ndiweni.
Mr Dube added that the witch-hunters charged every homestead $2 for them to come into the area, money which was collected by the chief’s aides.
“Each homestead paid $2 for the witch-hunters to come in. Everyone was forced to pay that amount and no one could refuse. Now the witch-hunters are moving from household to household performing their rituals and charging villagers. I hear they are discovering some strange things,” he said.
When Sunday News visited Ntabaziduna two weeks ago Chief Ndiweni was said to be out of the country and was expected into the country last week. Efforts to get hold of him were futile.
One of the witch-hunters Kumbulani Moyo, whose trade name is Gava, refuted claims that they were forcing people to participate in their rituals. He however, confirmed that each household paid a compulsory $2 fee for his team of 15 witch-hunters to come into the area.
“We don’t force people to come to us and be treated. People come on their own accord with their various concerns and we attend to them. We first agree on the price then we do our work and the person pays. If someone does not agree with our terms they are free not to take part in our activities,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) president George Kandiero said his association was constrained from taking action as the witch-hunters will be operating with the blessings of local leaders.
He warned members of the public not to entertain witch-hunters or any traditional healers who do not have practicing licences.
Online Reporter