Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A VENDOR from Mutasa has accused a fellow trader of stealing her potato produce from a community storeroom, which she believes led to her experiencing a mysterious four-month period of blindness.
The matter was brought before Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday, where Margaret Foro, the affected vendor, testified against Rudo Matekenya, who is also her aunt.
Foro expressed certainty that Matekenya was responsible for the theft and her subsequent illness.
“We collectively store our potatoes in a shared storeroom. One evening, Matekenya claimed she had left her phone behind and returned to the storeroom alone. The following day, my potatoes had vanished.
Strangely, I lost my sight the very next day. This incident repeated itself; after storing my potatoes, they would disappear overnight, only to be replaced by Matekenya’s potatoes in the exact same spot,” explained Foro.
She told the court that her losses went beyond theft.
“Each time my potatoes are stolen, I fall ill. I lose my sight and suffer severe headaches, leaving me bedridden for four to five months. I am completely reliant on others for basic care,” she said.
Foro insisted: “My illness is directly linked to the stolen potatoes. I only fall ill when my potatoes are stolen, and Matekenya is always involved. I know what is happening — I am not fabricating this.”
Her mother, Benadette Chikeya, corroborated Foro’s account, detailing the family’s distress.
“Margaret would often return home, complaining of stolen potatoes. We suspected Matekenya and stopped storing the potatoes in the shared storeroom, hiding them in the bush instead. Yet, the thefts continued,” said Chikeya.
The situation has fuelled suspicions of witchcraft, straining relations between the two families.
“We confronted Matekenya’s family, demanding that they accompany us to traditional healers to uncover the truth. How else can we explain Margaret’s mysterious illness every time her potatoes go missing?” Chikeya asked the court.
Chikeya explained that they lacked evidence to implicate Matekenya, making a police report impossible. Instead, she requested a referral to a traditional healer to investigate the allegations.
Matekenya vehemently denied the allegations.
“I am shocked by Foro’s witchcraft accusations. We are related by marriage, and I am not a thief or witch. Multiple vendors use the storeroom, and potato theft is a shared problem. On one occasion, all potatoes were stolen, not just Foro’s. Later, both our potatoes went missing. However, because I reported my own theft, Foro mistakenly assumes I am stealing hers. Her mother took these baseless accusations to my father, claiming I am bewitching Foro. This is false,” she said.
Her father, Martin Matekenya, dismissed the allegations as unreasonable.
“Benadette Chikeya approached me, claiming my daughter had bewitched her child over stolen potatoes. They wanted us to consult traditional healers, but I refused without her husband or other relatives present. It is unfair to accuse my daughter of inexplicable things,” he said.
Chief Mutasa, after hearing both sides, advised the complainants to pursue legal action rather than relying on suspicion and speculation.
“If you suspect potato theft, report it to the police. This court does not handle speculation or witchcraft claims. Theft is a police matter, not a traditional court case. If you know the thief, file a report. If not, refrain from making unsubstantiated accusations,” said Chief Mutasa.
Chief Mutasa cautioned both families against further confrontations and recommended seeking spiritual guidance if desired.
He instructed them to consult traditional healers.
