Siblings confess to witchcraft
IT is not every day that a wizard or a witch openly confesses before a crowd that he or she is involved in witchcraft and is responsible for other family members’ deaths and suffering.
Even after being cornered with overwhelming evidence at hand, those involved in witchcraft do not easily confess. Rather, they often put up spirited fights.
However, it was a different ball game at Headman Chigodora’s community court recently when two elderly siblings confessed that they are masters in witchcraft. They also confessed that they were responsible for several mysterious deaths and misfortunes bedevilling their family.
To show their remorse, the duo bowed before the family and asked for forgiveness. Sekuru Mureyani and his sister, Tete Mureyani, had been hauled before the community court by their family, led by Blessing Mureyani.
During an earlier court session, the two initially denied that they practise witchcraft before they were exposed by popular Harare-based traditional healer, Sekuru Tasvu.
The Mureyani family was asked to pay US$8 800 for consultating Sekuru Tasvu. Headman Chigodora sent the family to Sekuru Tasvu’s shrine in the company of his aides.
Tete Mureyani reportedly surrendered a creepy object that had horns, teeth and fur, while Sekuru Mureyani allegedly surrendered a huge monitor lizard (gwama).
The duo confessed that they were behind the deaths of several family members, including their other siblings, nieces and nephews. During the emotionally-charged session, they also said they have caused marriage breakdowns, birth complications and unemployment woes within the family, among other things.
“I am a witch. I am responsible for the allegations made against me by other family members. I would like to apologise to everyone I wronged, including those I accused of practicing witchcraft,” said a remorseful Tete Mureyani.
Sekuru Mureyani said: “I also accept that I am a wizard. I possessed the huge lizard that I surrendered to Sekuru Tasvu.”
Blessing Mureyani, who was one of the complainants, told the court that he was involved in two mysterious car accidents on his way to Headman Chigodora’s community court.
“I saw an owl as I was coming here. I was also involved in two accidents on my way here. I am not saying my relatives are witches. I am just telling the court how I travelled. I almost died on my way here,” he said.
Headman Chigodora said he was happy with the two’s confessions.
“At least these two have come out clean and confessed to their evil acts. I will, however, summon Blessing
Mureyani to this court as he also has a case to answer.
“I won’t delve much into the allegations, but he must also come out clean,” said Headman Chigodora.
In his narration before the court, one of Headman Chigodora’s aides said: “When we accompanied the Mureyani family to Sekuru Tasvu’s shrine, Sekuru and Tete Mureyani surrendered several items, including a huge monitor lizard (gwama).
“We were shocked to learn that Blessing went behind other family members’ backs and surrendered a huge snake wrapped in cloth. It was not easy to exterminate the snake as it bit one of Sekuru Tasvu’s aides. It was eventually killed,” said the aide.