The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
BEING fingered by his 11 sons as the culprit behind all misfortunes befalling the family left a Mutare man with no option but to approach the courts for protection.
All this came to light after Elias Hungwe dragged his 11 sons — Brian, Marisai, Admire, Josphat, Kelvin, Reginald, Peter, Joel, Zvichapera, Melody and Gilcourse Hungwe — to Mutare Civil Courts applying for protection order against them.
Mutare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Chigodora presided over the matter.
Elias told the court that he had had enough of the incessant threats that came from his sons as they pestered him many times to accompany them to traditional healers to facilitate the cleansing of their home. He told the court that he did not entertain traditional cleansing ceremonies since it was against his beliefs as a Christian.
“I have since converted into Christianity so I told them that I would not accompany them to traditional healers, but they would not have any of that. At one time they pestered me from 8pm to 1am forcing me to go with them.
“Reginald even went to the extent of cutting his hand and let blood flow on my floor saying if anyone died it would be my fault so I finally consented,” he said.
Elias told the court that the first traditional healer cleared him of the witchcraft allegations, but his sons could not stop pestering him.
In their responses, the sons agreed with what their father had submitted before the court, but were quick to point out that he had omitted some facts. Brian told the court that as they grew up, everyone knew of the witchcraft allegations.
“Since when our father was pensioned from his workplace in Harare sometime in 1975 and came back home, strange and weird things have been happening in the family and everyone knows that this man is behind all those weird actions,” he said.
“Your Worship, where else have you seen two people from the same family dying on the same day? This has not happened only once; it has become the order of the day in our own family and why does he not want to help us to solve this issue? It just makes one wonder, Your Worship.”
Peter told the court that his wife and all his children were on their deathbeds.
“My whole family is ill, but our father will not help us as he is hiding behind his religion. Our sister died last week, while our other brother has been hospitalised in South Africa in the intensive care unit. We need your help to knock some sense into our father’s head,” he informed the court.
“The traditional healer never cleared him. He only gave us a potion which he said was for weakening the witch in the family and ordered us to come back later.
“Our father is now refusing to go back and one person has already died since he started refusing. We now want to save our brother’s life in South Africa,” added Reginald.
Mrs Chigodora granted Elias Hungwe the protection order against his 11 sons and all were barred against threatening, assaulting or disturbing his peace. However, she also advised the sons to consult a traditional court for redress.
