Witchcraft row rocks Johane Masowe Sect
ACCUSATIONS and counter accusations of witchcraft have become the order of the day for two feuding members of an apostolic sect in Marara Village in Mutasa District where the other is alleging to have been used as a hyena in witchcraft escapades.
Julia Tsotsoma (39) is up in arms with Elias Kaisa, an elder in the Johane Masowe Sect in Marara Village who is referred to as Muparidzi (preacher) in the church, with the latter being accused of sending goblins to kill Tsotsoma.
This was revealed when Kaisa approached Mutare Civil Court seeking a protection order against Tsotsoma, whom she accused of having turned violent in recent weeks.
However, Kaisa told the court that though Kaisa might be granted a protection order against her, she was not sure how she would also defend herself against Kaisa when he and his wife visit her in the night in spiritual form.
“This all started in November when I entered a room where our boys sleep at our homestead. There was a bag which contained clothing for the boys, but I got a revelation that inside the bag there was a snake. I tried to lift the bag, but I could not lift it. It appeared as if there was a huge stone inside the bag.
“I told my husband about it, but he did not take me seriously. The same day we went out to the maize field, but when we came back our children told us that three of our chickens had died mysteriously. That is about the same period I fell sick.
“I was also shown in a rev- elation that Kaisa had placed a cat and two goblins at our house. Even spiritual leaders at our church confirmed that.
“I am having a torrid time. They (Kaisa and company) want to kill me for exposing their evil deeds.
“I was even told in church that I was being used as a hyena whenever Kaisa’s wife and her accomplices went for witchcraft escapades,” said Tsotsoma.
She said Kaisa is refusing to have this matter be heard at a higher level in church at their Gandanzara Shrine.
Tsotsoma also confirmed that she recently went to Kaisa’s home threatening to assault him and his wife while holding a hoe, an incident that resulted in Kaisa seeking a protection order against her.
However, Kaisa denied the allegations saying Tsotsoma must be out of her mind.
“I do not know where this is all coming from.
“I do not know anything about witchcraft. I doubt whether she is still sane.
“The reason I came here is that she recently came to my home threatening to assault me and my wife while holding a hoe,” he said.
Mutare magistrate, Miss Nyasha Kuture, granted the protection order.