The Sunday Mail
REMEMBER, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Blinded by the allure of prosperity, an elderly man’s quest to get rich quickly through supernatural means backfired horribly when his children and relatives died, allegedly as a result of the muthi (traditional medicine) he acquired to become rich.
Jekete Ncube from Kapame village in Hwange reportedly bought the muthi, a python skin in a gourd, under the pretext that it possessed magical powers that could bring him instant wealth.
To his horror, the muthi had the opposite effect — causing the death of his children and relatives.
Instead of the muthi making him rich, Ncube is still poor.
“For Ncube, days turned into weeks and weeks into months, but his financial situation remained unchanged.
“Despite his unwavering faith in the sangoma’s promises, his hopes for a better life began to dwindle,” said a source who requested anonymity.
According to the source, a frustrated Ncube later confronted the sangoma, demanding an explanation for the lack of results.
“The sangoma, unfazed by his anger, reportedly told him that the python skin’s power required patience and unwavering belief,” said the source.
Following a series of mysterious deaths in the family, other members invited Archbishop Emmanuel Mutumwa, the leader and founder of the Johane Masowe eChishanu Apostolic Church in Bulawayo for a cleansing ceremony.
During the event, Ncube made a chilling confession, saying some years ago, in a desperate bid to get rich, he consulted a sangoma, who gave him a python skin in a gourd.
A thorough search of his bedroom revealed a bag containing a considerable amount of coins and a drum brimming with maize grains.
His confession reportedly torched a storm within his family, with some members baying for his blood.
Ncube told Archbishop Mutumwa that his get-rich plan did not work out when the muthi started tormenting him, killing his children and other family members.
“I do not want this muthi anymore. I want to be rescued from it,” he reportedly pleaded during the cleansing session, while warning other family members against using juju to get rich quickly.
He reportedly said he never thought the muthi would harm his children and that he was now paying a heavy price for his actions.
In an interview, Archbishop Mutumwa confirmed the incident, saying it served as an example of the dangers of succumbing to get-rich-quick schemes.
“Whatever your beliefs, it is important to remember that there is no such thing as a get-rich-quick scheme. If you want to be successful, you need to pray, work hard and be patient. There are no shortcuts to success.
“If you are considering using juju, please think carefully about the risks. It is not worth putting your life or the lives of your loved ones at risk,” warned Archbishop Mutumwa.
He said this usually happens when the client fails to follow all the instructions. — B-Metro
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Two drown as exorcism ceremony goes wrong
Two Dangamvura men died after diving into Fern Valley Dam in a bid to rescue a girl who was about to drown during an exorcism ceremony.
The bodies of Paul Mupukuta (44) and Clifford Mhlanga (68) were retrieved by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Sub-Aqua Unit.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Norbert Muzondo revealed that Mupukuta approached a traditional healer, Mbuya Monica Mhlanga — of Area 3, Dangamvura — to assist him in finding a solution to a spiritual challenge that was allegedly affecting his family.
The parties proceeded to Fern Valley Dam for a cleansing ceremony.
It is alleged that during the event, Mbuya Mhlanga, who was cleansing Mupukuta’s 15-year-old daughter, said she was feeling weak.
The girl started drowning and her father jumped into the water to save her.
Mhlanga also dived in to rescue his wife.
Gogo Mhlanga and Mupukuta’s daughter survived.
However, Mupukuta and Mhlanga could not make it.
A witness, Prosper Mugari, said he was in his garden when he heard cries for help. He rushed to the scene and managed to assist Mupukuta’s daughter.
“I jumped into the water. Together with the assistance of Monica Mhlanga, who was now standing on the banks of the dam, we managed to rescue the girl,” said Mugari.
A Fern Valley resident, Elsa Mvududu (76), said: “After being rescued by Mugari, the girl came to my house drenched, shivering and in a state of shock.
“She narrated what had happened and I gave her clean clothes to wear and a blanket to cover herself. I then informed police officers of what had happened.”
The councillor for the area, Calvin Matsiya, said Fern Valley Dam was established as a recreational reservoir but poor maintenance has turned it into a pool of death.
“Three separate incidents have happened at the dam in recent years. Lives are being lost.
“We urge people to avoid visiting the dam for religious, recreational or fishing purposes without permission from the local authority.
“People must seek guidance before they take part in any activities there, including weddings and parties,” he said.
However, some superstitious members of the community attributed the drowning of the two to mermaids that are reportedly in the dam.
A self-proclaimed spiritual healer only identified as Banda said: “I am a believer in mermaid spirits.
“I am a worshipper of marine spirits and we should have been given a chance to carry out our rituals to save the lives of the victims before the Sub-Aqua Unit was called.
“If we had carried out an overnight vigil at the dam, the two men would have popped out of the water and slept safely on the reeds like the biblical Moses for us to find them alive and healthy the following day.
“A cleansing ritual should be done at the dam as a matter of urgency,” said Banda.
A local resident who preferred anonymity said: “We have come across people leaving different clothes, jewellery, expensive cutlery and foodstuff such as meat and sweets.
“All these items find their way into the dam. Some pour opaque beer and wine into the dam as offerings, thereby threatening the dam’s aquatic life.
“We have told our children to stay away from the dam and not to take anything away from it as they can be baits put there by those who frequent the dam to recruit people into their cults.” — Manica Post
