Witch-doctors swindle villagers of livestock
Published: 2013 August 28 20:36:18 (5423 Views)
Self-proclaimed witch-doctors commonly known in Zimbabwe as Tsikamutandas are causing havoc in Chief Mudavanhu's area in Mberengwa where they are reportedly demanding livestock from villagers whom they accuse of practicing witchcraft.
Villagers said the Tsikamutandas were in the area at the invitation of Chief Mudavanhu.
Chief Mudavanhu who acknowledged the presence of Tsikamutandas in the area, on Tuesday, however, said he had nothing to with their presence.
Some villagers who lost their livestock to the Tsikamutandas said they were being forced to attend the Tsikamutandas' witch hunting ceremonies by their village heads.
"Each village head is taking his subjects to the Tsikamutandas in the area and we heard that our local chief authorised these people to operate in our area. Every household is being forced to go and appear before these Tsikamutandas," said Mr Jabulani Shoko.
Mr Shoko said he lost an ox to the Tsikamutandas after they accused his elderly mother of possessing a goblin.
Another Villager Mrs Rutendo Manonose said she lost two goats to the Tsikamutandas after they also labelled her a witch.
"What I have noticed is that these people (Tsikamutandas) look at a person and assess his or her possessions in terms of livestock before they label them witches or wizards.
"If one is just a poor villager, he or she is cleared as clean. They will point a finger at you if you have goats or cattle. The whole thing is just a charade meant to rob us of our possessions," she said.
Another villager, Mr Daniel Maridza, said some enterprising business people and local butchery operators have since established a base to buy livestock extorted from the villagers by the Tsikamutandas.
He said the butchery operators were buying the beasts at low prices.
"If you bring an ox or a goat to the Tsikamutandas after being labelled a witch or a wizard, that beast is immediately sold for very little amount of money to these businesspeople or butchers.
"A huge ox is being sold for as little as $50 while goats are being sold for only $10.
"I guess this is because cash is easy to transport compared to beasts which need special clearance and trucks to move them," he said.
- Newsbite
Villagers said the Tsikamutandas were in the area at the invitation of Chief Mudavanhu.
Chief Mudavanhu who acknowledged the presence of Tsikamutandas in the area, on Tuesday, however, said he had nothing to with their presence.
Some villagers who lost their livestock to the Tsikamutandas said they were being forced to attend the Tsikamutandas' witch hunting ceremonies by their village heads.
"Each village head is taking his subjects to the Tsikamutandas in the area and we heard that our local chief authorised these people to operate in our area. Every household is being forced to go and appear before these Tsikamutandas," said Mr Jabulani Shoko.
Mr Shoko said he lost an ox to the Tsikamutandas after they accused his elderly mother of possessing a goblin.
Another Villager Mrs Rutendo Manonose said she lost two goats to the Tsikamutandas after they also labelled her a witch.
"What I have noticed is that these people (Tsikamutandas) look at a person and assess his or her possessions in terms of livestock before they label them witches or wizards.
"If one is just a poor villager, he or she is cleared as clean. They will point a finger at you if you have goats or cattle. The whole thing is just a charade meant to rob us of our possessions," she said.
Another villager, Mr Daniel Maridza, said some enterprising business people and local butchery operators have since established a base to buy livestock extorted from the villagers by the Tsikamutandas.
He said the butchery operators were buying the beasts at low prices.
"If you bring an ox or a goat to the Tsikamutandas after being labelled a witch or a wizard, that beast is immediately sold for very little amount of money to these businesspeople or butchers.
"A huge ox is being sold for as little as $50 while goats are being sold for only $10.
"I guess this is because cash is easy to transport compared to beasts which need special clearance and trucks to move them," he said.
- Newsbite
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