Masvingo – A Chilling Tale of Family Betrayal and the Devastating Consequences of Witchcraft
In the small village of Nyazura, located in Manicaland province, a young woman named Memory Maraya is living a life of torment and isolation. At the tender age of 13, she claims to have been cursed with witchcraft by her own mother, a decision that has left her feeling trapped and desperate for help.
According to Maraya, her mother initiated her into witchcraft by feeding her a concoction of herbs and performing rituals. This initiation has left her with a constant feeling of being watched, visions of snakes, and sleepwalking episodes that have left her outside her home, without any clothes on.
“I’m in pain,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “I need someone to help me break this curse so I can live a normal life. After my mother exposed me to this, I’ve been experiencing this problem every night. The door to my room is locked from the inside.”
Maraya’s story has become prime news in Nyazura, with many expressing disbelief and concern. She was previously living with a woman known as Kawere, who had taken her in out of compassion. However, Kawere’s own life has been deeply affected by Maraya’s curse.
Kawere, who provided Maraya with a room to occupy, has been plagued by nightmares and visions of Maraya, often seeing her sleepwalking through graveyards.
“I started dreaming about her, calling me and hitting me with a knife every night. On other nights, I would dream about her having something strange and speaking in an incomprehensible language. I eventually had to ask her to leave after finding her sleepwalking in the graveyard several times at night. I hope she gets help soon because you can tell she’s being used and she doesn’t enjoy it at all,” said Kawere.
Maraya’s search for help has been a long and difficult one. She said she have visited a prominent traditional healer in Harare, who was unable to assist her. “I went to a healer in Harare, but I ended up sleeping outside the sangoma’s house,” she said.
The young woman is currently in Masvingo, where she is trying to convince her mother to accompany her to the Harare who asked her to bring her mother so that the sangoma could try to assist her.
“I’m in Masvingo trying to persuade my mother to come with me to see this healer. Please, I hope this wisdom works, because my pain is unbearable. It’s hard to be told to your face that you ate someone’s child. This is my life story,” she said.
Maraya’s story has sent shockwaves through her community, with many expressing disbelief and concern. Her aunt, Mrs Chiedza Vakirai, confirmed that Maraya is in Masvingo, trying to convince her mother to accompany her to Harare for help.
“We are all praying that her mother will agree to take her to Harare so that Maraya can get help. She has suffered so much, to the point where she sees snakes on her back. Only she can see these snakes. She is in pain, and you can see it just by looking at her. We are powerless to help her with this problem because her mother is terrifying,” said Mrs Vakirai.
The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association (ZINATHA) has also weighed in on Maraya’s case, with the association’s leader Sekuru George Kandiero stating that it is a serious one that requires the intervention of a skilled traditional healer.
“She can be helped if she goes to a qualified traditional healer. In Zimbabwe, we have sangomas who can cleanse and exorcise her. It could be that she went to someone who is still learning or a fake sangoma, and the evil spirits or witchcraft from her mother are overpowering their abilities,” said Sekuru George Kandiero of ZINATHA.
Maraya’s case is a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of witchcraft and the importance of seeking help from qualified traditional healers. It is also a tragic example of family betrayal and the pain it can inflict on those who are targeted.
According to Mrs Vakirai, Maraya’s mother is a powerful figure in the community, and many fear her. “She is known for her witchcraft, and people are afraid to cross her,” she said. “But what she has done to her own daughter is unforgivable. She has ruined her life and left her in a state of constant torment.”
Maraya’s case highlights the need for greater education and understanding about witchcraft, as well as the importance of seeking help from qualified traditional healers.
