The Sunday Mail
THE avenging spirit of a man who died in prison following his conviction for raping his cousin in 2010 is wreaking havoc and demanding 10 goats in compensation from the victim’s family.
The unresolved issue has resulted in a series of distressful occurrences in the Mawocha family, with the spirit of the late Tafadzwa Mawocha purportedly killing people and livestock.
The unsettling events were disclosed during proceedings at Acting Chief Mutambara’s court.
It is alleged that Tafadzwa’s avenging spirit, which is manifesting through his sister Mary, is demanding an appeasement of 10 goats.
The avenging spirit is not denying raping its cousin, resulting in him serving time in jail.
Tafadzwa’s bone of contention is with his aunt, Lydia Mucherera, for reporting the rape to the police. The spirit claims the matter could have been resolved in the family.
“Since you had a hand in my imprisonment after I raped your daughter, and later died in prison, I want to be compensated. Had I not been arrested, I would not have died. I want 10 goats as compensation for my death in prison.
“I will kill everyone from this family because my spirit is not at peace. You are enjoying yourselves while I have become a wandering spirit following the betrayal by a relative,” said Tafadzwa’s spirit during the court session.
Tafadzwa died in prison six months after his conviction.
Speaking during the court session, his uncle, Samuel Mawocha, said efforts to appease their late relative’s spirit hit a brick wall when Mucherera left their haunted homestead following the manifestations.
“When the late Tafadzwa’s spirit manifested, Mucherera owned up and promised to pay the 10 goats. Even though she had the goats readily available, she could not perform the rituals without informing her parents as she is a daughter-in-law in our family.
“However, when she went to inform them, they stopped her from coming back, arguing that our family should settle her outstanding bride price first before she participates in any of our family rituals. She has never set her foot at our homestead since then and the avenging spirit is now more vicious,” he said.
The late Tafadzwa’s mother, Anna Chidziya, said the avenging spirit is refusing to accept appeasement from anyone, and demanding Mucherera and her family pay the 10 goats.
She said her home is now a house of horror because of the avenging spirit.
Chidziya said it is unheard of for an avenging spirit to manifest through a sibling.
“This is taboo and I am devastated. My son died in prison and he is now manifesting through my daughter. We have tried to engage the late Tafadzwa’s spirit so that it finds a medium from Mucherera’s family, but our pleas are falling on deaf ears.
“Mucherera left our homestead and is now domiciled at her parents’ place. Her parents are also demanding her lobola, yet her husband passed away a long time ago. This means we will continue to die from the avenging spirit’s anger while she lives happily at her parents’ home.
“When it attacks, my daughter gets very violent and you cannot restrain her. It is surprising that she is very calm today. Maybe the spirit has faith that the acting chief will help summon Mucherera so that she sorts out this mess,” she said.
The Mawochas begged Acting Chief Mutambara to order the avenging spirit to attack the Mucherera family directly.
The acting chief, however, said there was no need to act out of spite and order the avenging spirit to attack Mucherera’s family.
“It was your son who raped Mucherera’s daughter in the first place and he is not denying that he raped his cousin. This could be a matter of misplaced anger, but we will help summon the Muchereras to this court and reason with them. The avenging spirit issue should be dealt with first before the lobola issue, but they should just finalise the appeasement of this avenging spirit,” he said.
The acting chief ordered the Chidziya family to pay US$40 in transport costs for his messengers to summon the Mucherera family in Chitora village, under Chief Zimunya.
However, the Mawocha family cited financial constraints and asked for an adjournment of the matter so that they can raise the money. — Manica Post
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Naked man sexually assaults elderly woman
In an incident that left Esihlengeni residents in Esigodini shocked, a man, reportedly naked, emerged from nearby bushes and approached an elderly woman who was cleaning her yard before he dragged and forced her into her bedroom hut.
He then allegedly forced her to play with his manhood before he sexually attacked her. This was heard when the alleged sexual attacker, Liberal Makuwaro, appeared before Esigodini resident magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube on rape charges.
Makuwaro was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to April 10, when he will appear before a regional magistrate at the Gwanda Magistrates’ Courts.
The court heard that last week, the 60-year-old woman was cleaning her yard when Makuwaro, reportedly naked and wearing only a woollen hat, emerged from nearby bushes and approached her.
It is said he grabbed her hand before dragging her to her bedroom hut.
There, he is accused of forcing her to play with his manhood. After that, he allegedly carried out the attack.
It is alleged that after sexually attacking her, Makuwaro fled back into the bush.
The elderly woman later picked herself up and rushed to alert her neighbour before seeking medical attention at a clinic.
Villagers launched a manhunt, leading to Makuwaro’s arrest. — B-Metro
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Wife sets husband on fire
A 35-year-old woman was sentenced to 18 months in jail for setting her husband on fire following an argument in which he accused her of having an extramarital affair.
In a statement on X, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said: “On January 1, 2024, Cecilia Chitambo (35) and the complainant, Fungai Nyazana, had a disagreement because the complainant suspected the accused person was having an extramarital affair. The dispute began after the accused’s ex-husband paid her a visit at the matrimonial home.”
Chitambo left the marital home for her parents’ place after a heated disagreement.
“She returned home the next day and they had another disagreement over money wherein the accused person disappeared for a while before returning home with a container filled with petrol,” said the NPAZ.
Chitambo doused Nyazana with petrol before setting him alight. The victim then rushed to the kitchen and poured a bucket of water on himself to prevent further burns.
“Nyazana went to hospital for treatment and the accused person was subsequently arrested.
“The accused person was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, of which six months were suspended for five years. She will effectively serve 12 months,” said the NPAZ. —B-Metro
