The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Weekender Correspondent
A MUTAMBARA family is in the eye of a witchcraft storm which has seen octogenarian Fumirai Musweweshiri dragging his son, grandson and brother to court.
Mutare magistrate Ms Nyasha Kuture heard that Ngaaite (son), Jacob (grandson) and Dunmore (younger brother) are accusing Musweweshiri of wizardry and causing the deaths of several family members.
The trio also claim that Musweweshiri possesses blood-sucking goblins.
He claimed that his son had told Chief Mutambara that he (Musweweshiri) keeps a snake at home.
The visibly distraught Musweweshiri said the trio were the ringleaders in tormenting and emotionally abusing him.
As a result of the allegations, the whole Musweweshiri family and the community are now treating him like an outcast.
“They accuse me of sorcery and blame me for all the deaths in the Musweweshiri family.
“I am a religious man and I do not believe in all this. They have forced me to drink herbal concoctions and consult traditional healers,” complained the elderly man.
Musweweshiri also said he is now living in fear of his own family as they are baying for his blood.
The people in the courtroom burst into laughter as Musweweshiri pleaded with the court to ensure that a distance of at least three kilometres is always maintained between himself and the trio.
But Ngaaite and Dunmore told the court that the matter was still pending before Chief Mutambara’s court.
However, Dunmore said his brother Musweweshiri had confessed at a traditional cleansing ceremony.
“He was exposed during a cleansing ceremony and confessed. He even asked us to help him appease the spirits and we were in the process of looking for the beasts when we received the court summons to appear before you Your Worship.
“Our clan was very big, Your Worship, but there are now less than 100 family members left as a result of his sorcery. We will not be silenced when we know the person behind our suffering.
“Our family is blighted with misfortunes.
Some of our children are now mentally challenged because of him. This was confirmed by spirit mediums and traditional healers,” charged Dun- more.
Ms Kuture granted a protection order in Musweweshiri’s favour.
She, however, advised them to continue seeking redress at Chief Mutambara’s court.
