By Beverly Bizeki
New details have emerged on the bestiality case involving a 71-year-old Village Head’s Martin Gaviro from Chief Shumba area in Masvingo Central.
His repeated bestiality offences have left the community stunned with many wondering how donkeys are good with kicks and would allow him to abuse them time and again.
However, Chief Shumba born Ernest Chekai told TellZim News that he was short of words and expressed frustration over Gaviro’s lack of remorse saying Gaviro openly admitted to the crime and detailed his method of incapacitating the animals using a tree branch which he claims puts the donkeys to sleep.
He said the consistency of Gaviro’s confessions sparked suspicion of mental illness or use of juju.
“Initially when I punished him, I thought he would reform, but within months he was at it again. This time, his own wife caught him in the act. He said he uses a Shazhu (Tree Branch) to make the animals sleep.
“He does not even try to deny it, no matter who is present. His family has tried counseling him, but nothing works. I believe he needs psychiatric help, something is deeply wrong. When his wife reported the second incident to me I instructed her to report to the police,” he said.
Chief Shumba said the community will observe his behavior going forward since he was pardoned by the court but emphasized that trust has been deeply eroded.
The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) Masvingo Provincial Chairperson Prosper Dohwai told TellZim News that Gaviro’s issue could be the use of Juju which he said could have been misused hence he was always getting caught.
“He could be using Juju which he may no longer want or could have misused and now its haunting him that is why he was always being caught,” said Dohwai.
He also said there was a possibility that he could be using sex enhancing herbs giving him an insatiable appetite for sex.
Gaviro recently appeared before a Masvingo magistrate and was sentenced to one year in prison, wholly suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offense.
The incident, which comes barely a year after he was fined two beasts by the chief for the same offense, has shocked villagers and reignited calls for psychological evaluation and stricter penalties.
In 2024, Gaviro was brought before the traditional court after his younger brother, Jacob Gaviro, caught him in the act inside a cattle pen. At that time, he was ordered to pay one beast to his brother and another to the chief’s court as restitution for tarnishing the community’s image.
Jacob said prior to the incident, several women in the community had reported suspicious night-time abuse, while donkeys in the area were reportedly miscarrying, raising concerns of dark rituals.
“We had our suspicions for a while, especially after some women complained of unexplained sexual abuses during sleep. Our donkeys kept miscarrying. We were told it might be linked to someone using juju for sexual acts,” said Jacob.
He recounted how on the day of the 2024 incident, Martin had passed by his homestead to announce a meeting. After being served tea, he suspiciously took a path near the cattle pen. Jacob followed and caught his brother half-naked inside the pen. He then alerted the rest of the family and took the matter to the Chief’s court.
