Rapist’s ngozi demands compensation from victim’s mom
AN avenging spirit of a man who died in prison following his conviction for raping his cousin in 2010 is wreaking havoc and demanding compensation of 10 goats from the victim’s family.
The unresolved demand has resulted in a series of distressful occurrences in the Mawocha family, with the spirit of the late Tafadzwa Mawocha purportedly killing people and livestock.
The unsettling events were disclosed during proceedings at Acting Chief Mutambara’s court last Saturday.
It is alleged that Tafadzwa’s avenging spirit, which is manifesting through his sister Mary, is demanding an appeasement of 10 goats.
The avenging spirit is not denying raping its cousin resulting in him serving time in jail.
Tafadzwa’s bone of contention is with his aunt, Lydia Mucherera’s decision to report the rape to the police. The spirit claims that the matter could have been resolved in family circles.
“Since you had a hand in my imprisonment after I raped your daughter, and later died in prison, I want to be compensated. Had I not been arrested, I would not have died. I want 10 goats as compensation for my death in prison.
“I will kill everyone from this family because my spirit is not at peace. You are enjoying yourselves while I have become a wandering spirit following the betrayal by a relative,” said Tafadzwa’s spirit during the court session.
Tafadzwa died in prison six months after his conviction.
Speaking during the court session, his uncle, Samuel Mawocha said efforts to appease their late relative’s spirit hit a wall when Mucherera left their haunted homestead following the manifestations.
“When the late Tafadzwa’s spirit manifested, Mucherera owned up and promised to pay the 10 goats. Even though she had the goats readily available, she could not perform the rituals without informing her parents as she is a daughter-in-law in our family.
“However, when she went to inform them, they stopped her from coming back, arguing that our family should settle her outstanding bride price first before she participates in any of our family rituals. She has never set her foot at our homestead since then, and the avenging spirit is now more vicious,” he said.
The late Tafadzwa’s mother, Anna Chidziya said the avenging spirit is refusing to accept appeasement from anyone, and demanding that Mucherera and her family pay the 10 goats.
She said her home is now a house of horror because of the avenging spirit. Chidziya said this is unheard of for an avenging spirit to manifest through a sibling.
“This is taboo, and I am devastated. My son died in prison, and he is now manifesting through my daughter. We have tried to engage the late Tafadzwa’s spirit so that it finds
a medium from Mucherera’s family, but our pleas are falling on deaf ears. Mucherera left our homestead and now domiciled at her parents’ home. Her parents are also demanding her lobola, yet her husband passed on a long time ago. It means that we will continue to die from the avenging spirit’s anger while she lives happily at her parents’ home.
“When it attacks, my daughter gets very violent and you cannot restrain her. It is surprising that she is so calm today, maybe the spirit has faith that the Chief will help summon Mucherera so that she sorts this mess,” she said.
The Mawochas begged Acting Chief Mutambara to order the appeasing spirit to change focus and attack the Mucherera family directly.
Acting Chief Mutambara said there was no need to act out of spite and order the avenging
spirit to attack Mucherera’s family.
“It was your son who raped Mucherera’s daughter in the first place, and he is not denying that he raped his cousin. This could be a matter of misplaced anger, but we will help summon the Muchereras to this court and reason with them. The avenging spirit issue should be dealt with first before the lobola issue, but they should just finalise the appeasement of this avenging spirit,” he said.
Acting Chief Mutambara ordered the Chidziya family to pay US$40 as transport costs for his messengers to summon the Mucherera family in Chitora Village under Chief Zimunya.
However, the Mawocha family cited financial constraints, and asked that the matter be adjourned so that they could raise the money.
The matter was adjourned to March 23.