The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A 37-year-old Zimunya man whose parents were siblings believes the problems he is facing in life are a result of his uncle-cum-father’s deeds.
In an unsolicited interview, Lazarus Matasva told The Weekender that his parents – Grace Matasva and the late Zuva Matasva – were siblings and that his uncle would bed his sister, resulting in his birth.
After birth, baby Lazarus was allegedly sold to a traditional healer by the family in their bid to keep the secret under wraps.
However, the traditional healer later returned the boy to his family when he was five years old.
The matter is being dealt with at Acting Chief Zimunya’s court and is set to be heard on Sunday.
Lazarus said he is ready for DNA tests to be done on him and the late Zuva’s children so that the truth pertaining his paternity can be ascertained.
“I do not have the money for DNA tests, but I have been saving for these tests. However, I doubt if my aunt (Zuva’s widow) will allow us to conduct the tests on her children,” he said.
However, Lazarus is also accusing his mother, Grace Matasva; his uncle, Shupai Matasva and aunts Annefilda and Shayanne Matasva of casting a spell on him, resulting in his alleged bad luck.
Lazarus says the Matasvas never wanted him to be part of the family.
He also claims that the well-up Matasva siblings have been using their goblins to terrorise him and his family.
“We have consulted at least three traditional healers as ordered by Acting Chief Zimunya and the Matasva siblings were exposed for bewitching me. They do not want the secret of my paternity to be revealed. As a result, they are bewitching me and my two children. They want me dead so that I will be buried with the family secret,” said Lazarus.
He said misfortunes have become part of his DNA, adding that chief among the misfortunes are his endless marital disputes.
The women he beds menstruate endlessly.
“This has caused a lot of trouble in my life. My wife believes my lover is bewitching her, while my lover believes that my wife is bewitching her. Deep down I know that I am the source of all this as several prophets and traditional healers have told me this. My family is behind it all,” he said.
On the other hand, Lazarus’ 12-year-old daughter often falls and loses consciousness.
“The disease is disturbing my daughter’s health and well being. She rarely attends school. Watching her suffer torments my heart. Had it not been for her, I would not have pursued this matter with the courts. I want justice to prevail so that my family can lead normal lives.
“We have exhausted all our money in consulting traditional healers after being referred to them by Acting Chief Zimunya All three healers confirmed that the Matasvas are behind my suffering as they want their secret to remain hidden. I appeal to anyone who might help me in any way to do so,” he said.
In her defence, Grace said she did not know that being intimate with her brother was incest as she was still a teenager when it happened.
“It is true that I slept with my brother years ago. I was young and did not know whether it was appropriate or not. I once told my elder sisters about it and they told me that it was normal as our brother was also sleeping with them.
“My mother condoned it and so I thought it was normal. This is why I hid it from my son all these years. I knew that it would haunt him,” she said.
Speaking before Headman Chigodora’s court before the matter was referred to Acting Chief Zimunya, Grace’s brother, Shupai, said he did not know that Zuva slept with their sisters.
He also denied bewitching Lazarus.
“We have all been waiting for the truth to come out because we also want to know Lazarus’ father. He threatened to shoot us before killing himself. I want my sister to tell her son the truth, otherwise he will continue accusing us of witchcraft,” he said.
Headman Chigodora said it was likely that the late Zuva could have impregnated more of his sisters.
The matter will appear before Acting Chief Zimunya on March 5.
