Nyau dancer attacks onlookers

A MALE member of the Nyau cult was arrested last week after he assaulted an onlooker as he together with other members performed Chigure dances in the high density suburb of Penhalonga.

Mutsikwi Makwarakwara (29) admitted to the assault charges when he appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura on Tuesday.

Makwarakwara did not show remorse on committing the assault, rather he justified himself by claiming that he was only following his traditional protocol as a Nyau cult member. He told the court that if an onlooker stoned the Nyau dancers, well known as Zvigure, one had to be flogged with a stick to prevent evil spirits from following them.

“Your Worship, if I had not flogged her, evil spirits would have troubled her all the days of her life. In actual fact, I was cleansing her because she had been cursed automatically when she threw stones at us. It is our tradition that we flog anybody who stones us while in action for their own good.

“In fact, she should have thanked me for flogging her and not have me arrested. I did her good,” he told the court.

He was ordered to pay $100 in fines or risk 60 days imprisonment, he was not given time to pay.

Mr Fletcher Karombe represented the State.

The State outline was that on December 10, and in Old West Location, Primrose Sameke was at her neighbour’s place when she heard some noise coming from the Nyau cult members who were performing their rituals. She noticed that her child was going the same direction as the Nyau dancers and rushed to collect him.

It is alleged Mukwarakwara noticed what was happening and left his cult members dancing and ran after Sameke. When he caught up with her, he assaulted her with a wooden stick several times on her thighs and left.