Granny past cow over witchcraft allegations

Brighton Chiseva

Zaka – An elderly woman from Mharadza village, Headman Nyamutaki
under Chief Bota was recently fined a cow for accusing her village head of
bewitching her.

Ketsia Zuva appeared in the Zaka
Magistrates; Court at Jerera where she was convicted but spared jail.

Efforts to get a comment from the
village head were futile as his phone was not reachable but Headman Nyamutaki, real
name Maxwell Chaminuka, confirmed the incident.

“She was reported to the police and was taken to court but due to her advanced age, she was spared jail time. However, the village
head demanded that he be paid a cow and culturally that is the norm. She had to pay the fine,” said Nyamutaki.

Nyamutaki said the whole issue
started when the village head found human faeces in his house and called a meeting where he warned the culprit to come forward or risk
unspecified action.

“The next day, Zuva came forward
and said her grandchild was the responsible. The matter was brought to my court so I sought audience with both of them and the matter was resolved amicably.

After a few months’ time, Zuva had some problems with her leg and she accused the village head of bewitching her over the
previous incident and that is how the issue ended up in the higher court,” said Nyamutaki.