A Chimanimani family is caught in a bitter dispute following the mysterious deaths of two of its members, which they suspect may be linked to witchcraft. The unsettling events began after a chicken was gifted during a visit to the father of one of the deceased, only to vanish shortly after.
The case unfolded last Sunday in Chief Saurombe’s court, where Irene Mucharwa accused her former husband, Richard Mucharwa, of causing the deaths of their son and her brother through witchcraft. The two men reportedly died in 2023, just three days after Richard presented a live chicken and US$1 to his son as gifts.
Irene recounted the events leading up to the tragedy: “My husband and I had been separated for over 20 years, and I lived with our children – a son and a daughter. Last year, my son expressed a desire to visit his father, and my brother volunteered to accompany him. After their visit, Richard gave them a chicken as a gift.”
Upon their return, the chicken was integrated with the family’s other poultry, but it mysteriously disappeared after three days. “My brother then died mysteriously three days later,” Irene explained.
In the wake of her brother’s sudden death, Irene and her family sought assistance from traditional healers, known in the local culture as n’anga. These healers allegedly implicated Richard, suggesting that his actions surrounding the chicken’s disappearance were connected to the deaths.
“Mucharwa (Richard) was summoned and went to a traditional healer, where he confessed to killing my brother following the disappearance of the chicken he had given him and my son,” Irene claimed.
According to Irene, the healer charged Richard US$1 and instructed him to keep it as a ritual offering to avoid further family problems. “He was then advised to keep the US$1 and await further instructions from the healer,” she stated, highlighting the eerie nature of the events.
Tragically, shortly after receiving the US$1 from his father, Irene’s son also died. “Our son died three days after receiving the US$1. He had told me that his father had given him the US$1. Why would he give US$1 to our son? Our son was the only remaining witness who knew exactly what happened during their visit to his father with my deceased brother,” she asserted, suggesting that Richard wanted to silence their son.
In contrast, Richard vehemently denied the accusations, labelling them as baseless and malicious attempts to tarnish his reputation. “My mother-in-law (Irene’s mother) is a traditional healer, and I suspect she colluded with others to direct suspicion towards me. I strongly deny the accusations because I am innocent,” he maintained.
Irene also noted that the case has been heard in other courts before, highlighting Richard’s tendency to seek retrials in different traditional settings when dissatisfied with a ruling. “Whenever a ruling is made in a local court, he finds a reason to have the case transferred to another court. It’s a way to delay taking full responsibility for his actions,” she stated.
Richard defended his actions, asserting that he was merely seeking justice and a fair hearing. He claimed both families could potentially be biased in the proceedings. “I only requested the case be transferred because I felt the presiding officials had a relationship with my wife’s family. It wasn’t about running away, but about seeking a fair trial,” he explained.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Chief Saurombe ruled that the disputing parties should consult three traditional healers to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. “Let me emphasise the importance of consensus in choosing which healers you will visit. This court cannot force anyone to make a decision they don’t trust. All parties must agree on the healers you will consult,” the Chief stated.
However, he warned Richard, saying, “If it turns out you are responsible, this court will punish you severely because you cannot continue wasting the court’s time.” The Chief indicated that the case would continue in the near future, allowing both parties to consult different traditional healers.
