The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara Sunday Mail Reporter
Dzivarasekwa, better known as “DZ”, is one of Harare’s oldest high-density suburbs. Social ills such as drug abuse, prostitution and gambling are as common as they are in most parts of the country. Despite criminals always being on the prowl both at night and during the day, there is a place where they fear to tread in DZ — Mbuya Delia Mazanhi’s vegetable stall.
For as long as many Dzivarasekwa 1 residents can remember, this small stall in Shumba Crescent is always left unattended at night. And not many have had the guts to steal the vegetables.
Whenever she feels like calling it a day, Mbuya Mazanhi simply leaves without securing the place. Strangely, she finds everything intact the following morning, always! This writer stumbled upon this unusual set-up by chance. On that one night as The Sunday Mail news crew was going for a night assignment, this fully stocked stall was unmanned.
Again, there was no one when our news crew passed by after our assignment. This was around 1 am! We set to investigate. Nightclub revellers who were heading home did not disturb the order. The gate to Mbuya Mazanhi’s residence was wide open and the lights were off, indicating the family had long retired to bed. Neighbours who spoke to The Sunday Mail the following day alleged the stall-owner was well-known in the suburb for using juju and no one will ever dare steal from her.
The neighbours said this dark magic also attracts customers. One account has it that a certain woman once stole Mbuya Mazanhi’s vegetables only to return later, pleading for forgiveness as her stomach had swelled. The thief was ordered to pay a “hefty fine” and her stomach returned to normal, so the story goes.
Ever since then, no-one has dared steal from that senior citizen. However, Mbuya Mazanhi, who says she is a Christian, disputed the allegations. She said the woman “took” vegetables from her stall at midnight when no one was in attendance and only came back to pay two days later.
She insisted the woman returned without natural or preternatural pressure having been exerted on her. “People here always say that I use juju. But the truth is that we leave the stall unattended so that those who finish work, even at midnight, can buy the vegetables. It is as simple as that.”
However, her son Taurai said he takes the vegetables home by 8 pm. “I always make sure that by 8 in the evening I put the stuff (vegetables) in the house. Maybe I forgot to pack the things on the day that you are talking about,” he said. Despite the widespread juju allegations, customers are said to flock to the “secure” stall.
Mbuya Mazanhi attributes this to her business acumen. “You know, I have been in this business since 1963. People buy from me because the things I sell are affordable. I do not use juju because if I did, I wouldn’t be this poor,” she said. Juju or business acumen? The verdict is yours.
