Prophet gets hold of goblins
A Johane Marange Apostolic Church prophet from Nyanga, Phillip Nyakunwa, allegedly possesses four goblins that have for the past 10 years been tormenting his children.
The man has since been dragged to
Acting Chief Saunyama’s court by his irate children, Simon and Martha Nyakunwa, who are demanding to be released from bondage.
The two and their mother accuse Nyakunwa of using the goblins to harass them day and night.
However, Nyakunwa denied the claims and accused his children and wife of tarnishing his image.
He went on to describe them as his enemies.
Martha told the court that when her marriage got rocky, she visited countless prophets who told her that her father had married her off to one of his goblins.
“My marriage was rocky even though I was the youngest wife who usually gets all the favours in a polygamous marriage. Everywhere I went for spiritual counsel, I was told that I carry a spirit of another man on my back. The spirit is behind all my misfortunes.
“At one time, I met a stranger and he told me that I have goblins that follow me everywhere. He asked him to pray for me and as he did so, four goblins manifested. They said my father had surrendered me to them so that they could feast on me,” she said.
Martha has since divorced her husband and is back at her father’s homestead.
“That is why I approached my brothers so that we can get help because they too are struggling,” she said. However, Nhakunwa said his daughter was divorced for being motor-mouthed. He alleged that she challenged her husband, resulting in her divorce.
“She came back home and is already bossing me around. She shouts at me, forgetting that I am her father and deserve to be respected. She showed the same disrespect to her husband and that is why she was sent packing, not all this goblin hogwash she is trying to make the court believe. Her husband back then would come to my home complaining about her bossy behaviour,” he said.
She also said Martha’s mother had been advising her to leave her husband.
Nhakunwa also vehemently denied that he has goblins.
He narrated how his children forced him to stop going to church, while also dragging him to traditional healers.
“They are lying. They threatened to deal with me if I refused to accompany them to traditional healers.
‘‘Other relatives were not informed about their decision to consult traditional healers, save for my friend.
“This friend later told my brother that my violent children had force-marched me to a traditional healer. My brother followed us and saved me from them,” he said.
Nyakunwa, however, said he unknowingly received a goblin from a traditional healer when was not feeling well during his youthful days.
“The traditional healer that my children dragged me to said when I was young, my parents took me to another traditional healer when I was ill and that is where I got a goblin. I should be accused of intentionally acquiring the goblin because I was young and did not know what was happening,” he said.
Nyakunwa’s son, Simon, alleged that the goblins are only haunting his mother’s children, yet his father has several children from his four wives.
“He should release us because these goblins are ruthless. All of my mother’s sons are suffering financially, while our sisters’ marriages are on the rocks. It is getting out of hand, and we want to be set free from this bondage. What kind of a father wants to see his children suffering from his sins?” said the visibly angry Simon.
Acting Chief Saunyama ordered the family to consult three prophets from the Johane Marange Church for them to ascertain the true cause of the family’s challenges.