The Manica Post

‘My father is a wizard’

- Tendai Gukutikwa

TWO Nyanga brothers are accusing their father of acquiring money-making, bloodthirs­ty goblins from a Mozambican traditiona­l healer.

The duo is claiming that the goblins have caused six deaths in the family.

Tatenda Mukura alleges that sometime in 2001, he escorted his father, Owen Mukura, to a traditiona­l healer named Mwadiwa in Mozambique.

Owen allegedly acquired two goblins from that traditiona­l healer.

Tatenda claims that one of the goblins enhances wealth, while he does not know the purpose of the other one.

Owen used to run shops in Nyanga, but has since closed shop after allegedly angering the goblins.

Tatenda alleges that the goblins used to stay in his father’s car as per the instructio­ns he received from Mwadiwa.

“My father used to have cars and was a wealthy man, thanks to the goblins. He should have gone back to thank the traditiona­l healer, but he did not do so and now his wealth is gone. Instead, one of the goblins is now sucking our blood and causing different disabiliti­es among family members. It is also killing us.

“Mwadiwa told us that the goblins should stay in our father’s car. He was also barred from marrying two wives. However, when his financial fortunes improved, he married another wife and all hell broke loose. Mwadiwa, however, has said he can forgive him for marrying another wife, but he should pay the token of appreciati­on first,” said Tatenda.

He stated that to date, the goblin has killed six family members who succumbed to mysterious ailments.

“We do not know whether the other goblin is also wreaking havoc. If nothing is done, we will all perish. I beg that he be forced to pay Mwadiwa what is due to him,” he said.

The family appeared before Acting Chief Saunyama’s court recently.

“As we speak, I have a 19-year-old son who was able bodied all these years and just woke up crippled. My brother’s son is suffering from a mental illness. Several other family members have these unexplaina­ble illnesses. All we need is for my father to cooperate and engage Mwadiwa.

“Mwadiwa wants the token of appreciati­on our father promised him. We do not know what that is, but he has to honour his promise before we all perish,” said Tatenda.

Tatenda’s teenage son, Tadiwa, was immediatel­y possessed by Mwadiwa’s spirit during the court session.

“It is me Mwadiwa. Mukura should pay me for the services rendered. He obtained goblins from me, but he is refusing to thank me. If he remains adamant, his family will perish. I am in Chimoio and want what is due to me,” charged Mwadiwa’s spirit.

After being questioned on his whereabout­s in Chimoio, the spirit said: “So you think I am lying? I am in Chimoio, why do you want specific details?”

The spirit refused to shed more light on the issue, prompting the other people who were present to dismiss its claims.

Owen argued that his grandchild was faking the spiritual act.

“This boy is sweating out of fear. We all know how a possessed person behaves. The boy looks so terrified, he has been forced to perform this act.

“I know that Mwadiwa is Mozambican and he has a Sena accent. He does not speak fluent Shona like what this boy is doing. They have failed to stage manage the whole thing. They should start over and make it believable,” said Owen.

He accused his sons of begrudging him for marrying a new wife.

“They think that I have deserted their mother as I have married a new wife. They keep plotting against me and accusing me of wizardry. If I had acquired goblins, why did he (Tatenda) not tell his brothers and the whole family back then?” queried Owen.

The man, however, confirmed visiting the traditiona­l healer with his son.

“The truth is we drove another traditiona­l healer to his home and that is when we passed by Mwadiwa’s homestead just for a visit. Mwadiwa is also a traditiona­l healer,” he said.

He went on to accuse his first wife of being behind the misfortune­s haunting the family.

“I suspect that my first wife is behind all this. At times she gets possessed with an unknown spirit and this could be why my children are dying,” he said.

The family was advised to visit four different spiritual healers to get to the bottom of the issue.

 ?? ?? (From left) Tadiwa Mukura,his brother Tatenda and father Owen Mukura
(From left) Tadiwa Mukura,his brother Tatenda and father Owen Mukura

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