The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Tuesday, January 28, 1992 — A 22-year-old traditional healer from Shurugwi, Emmanuel Siwela, was jailed for an effective two years last Friday for administering a poisonous substance — copper sulphate, commonly known as blue stone — to a patient suffering from stomach pains.

The patient, Mr Manjonjo Mabhedla (68), died two days later, but the cause of his death could, however, not be established as his body was too decomposed for diagnosis at the time a postmortem was to be carried out.

Siwela, who was initially charged with culpable homicide, pleaded guilty before provincial magistrate, Mr Charles Mukwindizah, to administering poison or other noxious substances to the deceased. The charge of culpable homicide was dropped after a forensic reported that there was no copper sulphate found in Mr Mabhera’s viscera.

Mr Andrew Muvirimi for the State told the court that Siwela who is a registered member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association was at the time residing at Ziyabhonga Village Communal Lands. On September 22, 1990, Mr Mabhedla who was suffering from stomach pains approached Siwela for treatment and was told to return on the following day. On the next day Mr Mabhedla and Ms Angeline Ndlovu, Siwela gave Mr Mabhedla and Ms Ndlovu copper sulphate solution which they drank and instructed them to go to the bush in different directions.j hb jhjb hjb hjb vhbjvhb jhjbhv v Mr Mabhedla and Ms Ndlovu stayed in the bush for almost 11 hours vomiting.

Mr Mabhedla could neither walk nor talk at that time and his condition deteriorated on the following day. Siwela told Mabhedla’s family not to worry about his health as he would improve. Mr Mabhedla, however, died.