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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A 71-year-old self-styled witchdoctor allegedly drugged a 17-year-old girl who had visited his house for consultations before raping her, the court heard on Wednesday.
The victim, who was experiencing marital problems, is said to have visited Samson Mudyiwenzara, of 5132 New Canaan, Highfield, Harare, for spiritual help.
Mudyiwenzara allegedly told her that she had a mermaid spirit which was causing problems in her marriage. He said she was supposed to sleep with nine men as part of the cleansing process.
He then gave the woman some powder to sniff before raping her, the State alleged.
Mudyiwenzara appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with rape.
He was remanded out of custody to July 28.
Prosecutor Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo said on July 1, the woman went to a Masowe shrine and asked women at the shrine if they knew anyone who could solve her problems.
She was then referred to Mudyiwenzara before she went to his house the following day.
Mudyiwenzara allegedly told the victim that she was haunted by a mermaid spirit.
He then advised her to accept the spirit so as to end her problems.
Mudyiwenzara further told the victim that it had been revealed to him that she should have sexual intercourse with at least nine men.
The woman was also ordered to buy red, white and green cloths that Mudyiwenzara said were part of the process to cleanse the spirit.
The State alleges Mudyiwenzara told the victim that the men she was going to sleep with were supposed to pay her and she should hand over the money to him for the rituals.
On July 12, the woman went back to Mudyiwenzara’s house with her child. Mudyiwenzara advised her to take back the child and come back alone saying he wanted to start the cleansing ceremony.
When she came back, it is alleged Mudyiwenzara gave the woman some powder and ordered her to sniff it. She suddenly became weak.
It is alleged Mudyiwenzara rubbed some oil on his manhood before raping the woman.
After the act, Mudyiwenzara reportedly drank some water which he then spit on the woman’s face and told her that she had been cleansed.
He ordered her not to tell anyone warning that as a witchdoctor he was capable of doing anything to her.
Mudyiwenzara then gave the woman some powder and ordered her to add it to her bathing water. When she got home, the woman narrated to her husband what had happened and they made a report to the police.
Online Reporter