Mutare – A 44-year-old mother of four from Hobhouse in Mutare is battling a harrowing ordeal involving a “spiritual husband” who, she claims, repeatedly engages in sexual acts with her, even while her official husband is present.
Anna Mutepfura’s desperate plea for help highlights a deeply disturbing situation that blends the realms of the spiritual and the deeply personal.
Mutepfura’s account is one of unrelenting torment. She describes a situation where an unseen man, visible only to her, has been sexually assaulting her since 2009. The man, who she says only appears in his boxer shorts, has no regard for her emotional well-being or the sanctity of her marriage. The frequency and brazen nature of these encounters are deeply unsettling.
“He comes whenever he wants and does what he wants to me,” she stated, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and despair.
The psychological toll on Mutepfura is immense. The constant violation has driven her to contemplate suicide.
“Sometimes I just wish I were dead; I’ve even walked to the railway tracks intending to throw myself in front of a coming train,” she revealed.
The lack of support from her family only exacerbates her suffering. She feels utterly alone in her struggle.
Adding another layer of complexity to this already distressing situation is Mutepfura’s belief that the problem is rooted in a curse placed upon her by her mother, Ennet Mutepfura. According to Mutepfura, various prophets have linked her ordeal to a vow her mother allegedly made in her youth to become a spirit medium. This spiritual dimension casts a long shadow over the family dynamics, further isolating Mutepfura within her own family unit.
Mutepfura’s attempts to seek solace and support from her mother have been met with anger and denial.
“When I ask my mother why she did this to me, she starts crying or gets angry,” she explained, highlighting the fractured relationship between mother and daughter.
The lack of maternal support only reinforces Mutepfura’s sense of isolation and desperation. The situation is further complicated by dreams that Mutepfura experiences. She claims that dreams involving her mother and her deceased maternal grandmother often precede particularly severe episodes of abuse.
Ennet Mutepfura, when confronted with her daughter’s accusations, vehemently denies any involvement, instead attributing Anna’s suffering to a malevolent spirit.
“I know my daughter is tormented by an evil spirit, but her mind isn’t deranged,” she insisted.
She blames the strained relationship on Anna’s unfounded accusations. “She never visits me or her siblings, even though we live in the same town. She constantly sends me abusive messages,” she added, painting a picture of a deeply fractured family dynamic.
The impact on Mutepfura’s marriage is devastating. Her husband, Cross Ndlovu, feels powerless to intervene, his frustration and anger simmering beneath the surface.
“He (Cross Ndlovu) believes this unseen man is violating his marital rights, so he’s always angry and insults me. He no longer protects me, and my children are suffering,” Mutepfura shared, revealing the collateral damage inflicted upon her family.
The unseen man’s actions are not only a violation of Mutepfura’s body but also a clear transgression of the marital bond.
Financial constraints prevent Mutepfura from seeking justice through the traditional court system.
“I want to report this to Chief Mutasa or Chief Zimunya’s court, but I don’t have the money,” she lamented.
This financial barrier further compounds her suffering, leaving her feeling trapped and without recourse. She ends her appeal with a plea for assistance, not just in resolving her spiritual crisis but also in securing her children’s future.
“I appeal to anyone who can help me resolve this inexplicable problem or support my children’s education,” she pleaded.
George Kandiero, president of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha), offers a possible explanation and a potential solution. He suggests that Mutepfura’s predicament might be addressed through traditional spiritual cleansing.
“What church people call ‘spiritual husbands,’ we call ‘bvuri.’ This can stem from being bewitched by a jealous person, the use of witchcraft, or circumstances where one unknowingly enters into a pact with a spirit or is given to a dangerous spirit in their youth. What’s needed is to find someone who can cleanse her from this spirit,” he explained.
