The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
VEGETABLE and fruit vendors at Sakubva Musika got the shock of their lives when baboon hands and a hedgehog (nungu) skin tumbled out of the garbage that was being removed from the stalls.
The incident has sent tongues wagging in the eastern border city and beyond. Sakubva Musika was closed in April as part of Mutare City Council’s efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19. Some believe that the paraphernalia belonged to a vendor who was trying to supernaturally make more money than his or her peers.
Mr Felix Zengeya, a potato vendor said, “These charms are meant to hinder us from making money.”
Ms Sheila Kuboya, another vendor said, “This is not new among vendors. There are people using charms to outpace others in this business. But when the charms are exposed like this, they lose their powers and relevance. In Shona, they say ‘zvafumuka’ (the charms have been weakened). People should learn to earn clean money.”
Contacted for comment, Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association president, Mr George Kandiero said such charms are common among people who want overnight riches. The cleaning process has been going on for the past week.
