The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A MUTASA-BASED clergywoman is embroiled in a nasty occultism storm in which she stands accused of erecting a ritual grave at her homestead, thereby allegedly causing mysterious deaths in the family.
Close relatives of Reverend Lillian Mufute, who works in Tsvingwe area of Penhalonga, accuse her of performing rituals that have reportedly caused some deaths in the family.
They have since approached Acting Chief Zimunya’s court for intervention and also petitioned the church leadership to rein in the clergywoman.
In their petition, which this newspaper is in possession of, the relatives allege that Reverend Mufute keeps some pigs at her rural homestead, some of which are named after targeted close relatives.
A ritual grave at Reverend Lillian Mufute‘s homestead
“This petition serves to bring to your attention the issue of one of your church pastors, Reverend Mufute nee Gotora, whose divisive and ritualistic behaviour has literally torn the once united Mufute family apart and is creating irreparable damage to the family fabric.
“We the undersigned Mufute family members have been quiet for a long time, hoping for a change in the behaviour by the so-called Reverend, but alas her uncouth behaviour has worsened, degenerating into evil rituals which she spearheads using her son, Liberty Mufute, and the only surviving male member of her late husband’s family, Josphat Mufute.
“A typical case in point is a recent event at Reverend Mufute’s rural homestead which left us all shell-shocked where she together with Liberty and Josphat erected a ritualistic grave at her homestead.
“She also keeps some pigs at her rural homestead, some of which are named after targeted close relatives.
“A case in point is that one of the pigs at Revered Mufute’s homestead was named Peter. It was named after the late Peter Mufute. Curiously a day before Peter Mufute’s death, Liberty and Josphat were heard saying they were going to the rural areas to slaughter their pig, Peter.
“Strangely, the next day, Peter Mufute passed on and both Reverend Mufute and Josphat Mufute’s families did not attend the funeral despite the late Peter Mufute being Josphat’s blood brother and the Reverend’s late husband’s brother,” reads part of the petition.
Peter mysteriously died after the macabre ritual grave was erected at Reverend Mufute’s homestead.
Reverend Mufute’s relatives also accuse her of consulting traditional healers.
“You may also want to know that previously Reverend Mufute sent her emissaries (Liberty and Josphat) to Mozambique to consult a n’anga whom they brought back to Zimbabwe to conduct some rituals at their homesteads.
“The two — Lillian and Josphat — are also having an affair which is an open secret in the family, hence their strong bond which has further been enhanced by the two’s love for the occult. As we speak, the issue of the ritualistic grave at Reverend Mufute’s homestead has since been reported to the village head for onward transmission to Headman Nyamana and Chief Zimunya.
“If Reverend Mufute denies any of the allegations against her, why on earth did she allow her son and Josphat to erect a ritual grave at her homestead?
“Again, why would she allow her son to accompany Josphat to various n’angas in Chakohwa, Chipinge and as far as Mozambique? Clearly, it points to her deep involvement in all these shenanigans.
Josphat Mufute
“Again, why would a serving Reverend and her entire family decide to stay away from a family funeral?” reads the petition.
Contacted for comment, the church’s Mutasa District Superintendant, Reverend Tafadzwa Musona could neither confirm nor deny having received the petition, saying she was attending a family bereavement.
“I lost two brothers and I have been busy attending the funerals. I have not been in the office for some time and if the petition is in my office, I will surely get it when I am back,” said Reverend Musona.
However, Headman Happymore Nyamana confirmed having received the matter and forwarded it to Acting Chief Zimunya who is expected to decide on a date to deliberate on it.
“Yes, Reverend Mufute’s relatives approached us with their issues and gave us the magnitude of the matter, I referred it to Chief Zimunya who is currently not around, but he will come up with a date for its hearing,” said Headman Nyamana.
However, last week Reverend Mufute said she was not aware of the issue, adding that she would come over to our offices to discuss it.
She never showed up and when contacted again on Tuesday this week, she said she had decided that it is not necessary to come over.
Josphat Mufute said he was not interested in talking to the media.
