Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Headman Chitanga, born Lawrence Chitanga, is in trouble after he allegedly bashed a frail 92-year-old woman who had reportedly promised to bewitch his daughter who later passed on under mysterious circumstances.
The elderly Zvirikure Ruwisai of Chidzanira village under Chief Chitanga dragged the headman to the Mwenezi Civil Court seeking a protection order.
She told the court that at one point in time she was bashed by Chitanga after he accused her of witchcraft.
“He regularly beats me. He always scolds me, alleging that besides bewitching my own child, I also bewitched his late daughter,” Ruwisai told the court.
On his part, Chitanga denied assaulting Ruwisai but admitted making some statements to the effect that Ruwisai practiced witchcraft.
“There is no way in which I can assault such an elderly woman like Ruwisai. Her allegations are baseless. As for the issue to do with witchcraft, I told her point blank. Before the death of my daughter, Ruwisai told her that she will grow underground.
“Literally in our customs such suggestions imply witchcraft. What she had promised my daughter came to pass because she died after Ruwisai had uttered those statements,” said Chitanga.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa granted Ruwisai the protection order and strongly warned Chitanga to desist from such behaviour or risk the full wrath of the law.
Musiiwa also advised Ruwisai that if she was interested, she could immediately file a police report against Chitanga for labelling her a witch.local
