The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
OVERCROWDING at white garment prophets shrines, markets and a dozen men sharing a meal and discarded face masks at beer spots is a mirror of the lives of Mutare residents amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the announcement of the more deadly second wave of Covid-19 pandemic that has resulted in a spike of cases across the country, many residents continue to play lottery with death.
A Mutare resident, Mr Oliver Takarinda, aptly described the prevailing situation on the ground: “There are still people not taking this pandemic seriously. It is like playing a lottery you don’t win. We are in a lottery where we are not dicing with our own lives, but dicing with somebody else’s.”
It is a hive of activities at most places, among them prophets’ shrines, market places, illegal money changing and social gathering places. The volume of traffic into the Central Business District is almost the same like late last year.
Some residents have resorted to the cat and mouse game with law enforcement agents, while fake exemption letters have flooded the city.
People not wearing masks are a common site in most high-density suburb, while ‘agents’ have been employed outside Murahwa People’s Green Market to market various wares at the ‘semi-closed’ market.
People with different ailments and problems seeking spiritual healing are continuing flocking to various self-styled prophets’ shrines in Sakubva and Hobhouse high-density suburbs, breaching national lockdown restrictions in the process.
A check by The Manica Post last week established that tens of people were seeking healing and deliverance at Madzibaba Skynage of Johane Masowe weChishanu Wenguwo Chena in Sakubva as well as Madzibaba Nzira’s shrines in Hobhouse.
Despite putting on masks, being sanitised and maintaining social and physical distancing, the desperate congregants have not been adhering to other Covid-19 regulations of staying at home except for essential service providers.
During the early part of the Covid-19-induced lockdown, police had to disperse a crowd that had queued up to consult Madzibaba Nzira on various spiritual problems.
Both prophets confirmed the development, saying they were working flat out to conscientise people who would be seeking their services to adhere to Covid-19 safety guidelines and restrictions despite some of them being adamant.
Madzibaba Skynage recently conducted a healing session at his shrine in Maonde where a Chisamba woman who struggled to eat, walk and talk was reportedly healed as well as a woman who confessed to have killed his niece through witchcraft was delivered.
“Covid-19 is real and I have been doing everything I can to ensure our safety as a family and as a church. Whenever I realise that people are exceeding 30, I turn others away. I ask them to come back on a later date. I am glad that all of them are putting on masks and maintaining social distancing while waiting to be served.
“It is not easy as some of them will be mere spectators before deciding to seek assistance. Some of the patients with different ailments such as asthma, cancer and barrenness claim that they resort to visit my shrine because they are not getting assistance from hospitals. Some come to get assistance to recover stolen property,” claimed Madzibaba Skynage.
Madzibaba Nzira said: “It is quite a difficult period where one can spend the whole day at my shrine waiting for assistance. Those seeking my assistance will be putting on masks, sanitise their hands, maintain physical distance, but they have to endure long hours of waiting for their turn. I am, however, making sure that once the number of patients continue growing, I turn some of them away. I have not encountered major challenges with law enforcement agents, despite an earlier raid during the first days of the national lockdown last year.”
Mrs Tendai Matika of Chitakatira, who struggled to eat and talk in a suspected case of witchcraft following an altercation with a neighbour over demarcation of land, said: “My brother, I know that I am not an essential service provider, but sitting at home and watching myself dying is not an option. I suspect I was bewitched and engaging Madzibaba Nzira was the last option I had. I feel healed now. All I can say is witchcraft is there my brother. Now I can go back home and follow Covid-19 regulations with peace because I am healed,” she said.
Said a Chisamba woman who was recently assisted by Madzibaba Skynage, but requested anonymity: “I was on the verge of dying. At first I thought I had contracted Covid-19 after struggling to breathe and had severe headache and stomach ache, but I later realised that after consulting a doctor, that it was depression. I had a lot in my mind and at one time I harboured thoughts of committing suicide, but after consulting Madzibaba Skynage, my challenges are now a thing of the past. I have fully recuperated.”
At Sakubva Musika, vendors said they are adhering to the prescribed 8am to 3pm operating times.
However, it will be a hive of activity well before 8am and 3pm at the market.
Mutare City Council spokesperson, Mr Spren Mutiwi said: “The vendors operating trading in farm produce are operating legally and are protected by the Statutory Instrument. They are mandated to operate and observe Covid-19 regulations such as putting up masks, sanitising and maintaining social and physical distancing.”
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, said: “We are advising the public that in addition to the provisions and guidelines for prevention and containment of Covid-19, offences can be committed against the general provisions of the Public Health Act for which any person can be arrested and prosecuted. People should desist from displaying or selling of foodstuffs on streets and open spaces. Vending and all forms of informal trading, save for the selling of farm produce on designated places have been barred up to January 31.”
