PROPHET SHAVES WOMAN’S PRIVATES
. . . MOTHER-IN-LAW IMPLICATED
A 19-YEAR-OLD married woman reportedly had her privates and head shaved during a cleansing ceremony held at a Johanne Masowe yeChishanu shrine.
The incident happened in Macheke last week where Moreblessing Kuziwomunhu claimed that she was forced by her mother in-law Evelyn Zenda to get her privates shaved by a prophet at the shrine so as to avoid miscarriage.
The shaving was conducted during a night prayer session and the shaved hair was taken to a sacred cave (ninga).
Irked by the act, Moreblessing informed her mother identified as Mai Kuziwomunhu before dragging Zenda to Chief Mangwende’s court.
The case against Zenda is reportedly for forcing Moreblessing to undergo the exorcism.
Moreblessing told H-Metro that she was shaved while three men looked on, in the absence of her husband Gilfas Mundicha, 27.
“I had not been going to church for a while so my mother in law invited me citing that the spirit wanted to say something to me.
“Upon arriving at the shrine, one of the prophets stood up and gave prophecy on me that with or without my consent I was not going to leave the shrine unless I had my hair removed.
“One of the church members was quick to say she had a pair of scissors and three men were assigned to stand behind me during the cleansing.
“I was shaved while someone was pouring water all over my body and their reason was to protect my pregnancy,” she said.
Moreblessing said she was told to take the hair to a cave.
“They gave me the hair which I was told to mix with charcoal and put it in a white cloth before taking it to the cave around 9pm.
“Some few days before the incident I had a quarrel with my mother in-law over some other issue but I apologised.
“That was the reason I did not refuse to undergo the cleansing ceremony she suggested to me.
“Upon returning home I informed my husband who was angry about it, then I told my mother the following morning,” said Moreblessing in tears.
Gilfas told H-Metro that the cleansing ceremony was carried out without his blessing and he is not a member of the Johanne Masowe yeChishanu who conducted the ‘unholy’ prayers on Moreblessing.
“I am not a follower of that church although I used to believe in some of their prayers.
“As for my wife’s shaving, I was not informed and I do not believe in such prayers at all,” he said.
Zenda told H-Metro that the shaving was conducted while she was asleep at the shrine although she was the one who took Moreblessing to the cleansing ceremony.
“To be honest the shaving was done when I was asleep and I do not know who exactly shaved her.
“I was aware of the prophecies made on Moreblessing concerning her pregnancy and that was why I wanted it be done to safeguard her from the spirit of witchcraft.
“Iye anoziva zvakaitika saka taida kuti zvisadzokorore,” she said.
Mai Kuziwomunhu reported the case to a village head and the matter was referred to chief Mangwende where Zenda was expected to appear last Friday.
The case was postponed to another date to be advised by the traditional court following the suspension of hearings in line with Covid-19 restrictions.