Kwekwe – In a chilling display of grief and traditional beliefs, relatives of a woman allegedly axed to death by her boyfriend in Kwekwe, dumped her body at his residence in protest. The dramatic act, which unfolded in the Mbizo suburb, has left residents reeling and highlighted the enduring power of ancestral beliefs in Zimbabwe.
Ms Anna Matambo was reportedly murdered by her boyfriend at their lodgings in Mbizo 13 suburb on February 10. The boyfriend is currently on the run, evading authorities.
Last Thursday, Ms Matambo’s relatives, seeking to unleash the avenging spirit of the deceased, transported her body to the boyfriend’s house in Mbizo 15. After a period of mourning and traditional rituals, they later collected the body and proceeded to Gutu for burial.
Mr Phillip Chidhakwa, the deceased’s uncle, confirmed the incident, explaining that the temporary dumping of the body was intended to leave the avenging spirit, known as “ngozi,” at the boyfriend’s place.
“Anna Matambo was my niece, my sister’s daughter. She was murdered by her boyfriend and I was called on Sunday evening and informed about her death,” said Mr Chidhakwa, who stays in Chegutu. He added that they took the deceased’s body to the murder suspect’s house to bid her spirit farewell before burial in Gutu as per their traditional custom.
According to Mr Chidhakwa, Ms Matambo’s three children, aged 13, 11, and 9, witnessed the brutal murder. “The three children witnessed their mother being struck three times with an axe on the head and she died on the spot,” he recounted.
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said police were not aware of the murder case.
The Spectre of Ngozi: Avenging Spirits in Zimbabwean Culture
In Zimbabwe, as in many African cultures, the spirit of the dead is treated with profound respect and reverence. When someone dies, their spirit is believed to linger, maintaining a connection to the living world. However, when a person is murdered, particularly in cold blood, their spirit is said to become restless and vengeful, transforming into an “ngozi,” an avenging spirit.
The “ngozi” is not merely a ghost; it is a powerful force driven by a thirst for justice. It seeks retribution for the wrong that was done to it in life, and it will relentlessly pursue the perpetrator and their family until it is appeased.
Traditionally, appeasing an “ngozi” involves a complex process of negotiation and compensation. The family of the murderer must offer restitution to the family of the deceased, typically in the form of cattle. The number of cattle demanded can vary depending on the circumstances of the murder, but it is often a significant number – at least ten, and in some cases, as many as fifty.
Failure to appease an “ngozi” is believed to have dire consequences. The spirit may unleash a series of misfortunes upon the murderer’s family, including mysterious deaths, illnesses, financial ruin, and other devastating setbacks. These misfortunes can persist for years, even decades, until the spirit is finally satisfied.
In some cases, families of those who have killed someone may seek the services of unscrupulous traditional healers to “kutsipika” – a ritual intended to silence the spirit of the dead. However, this is often seen as a temporary reprieve. While it may provide some short-term relief, the “ngozi” is believed to eventually resurface, seeking its revenge with even greater ferocity.
The case of Anna Matambo highlights the enduring power of these beliefs in Zimbabwean society. By dumping her body at her boyfriend’s house, her relatives were not simply expressing their grief and anger; they were invoking the power of the “ngozi” to seek justice for her murder. Whether the boyfriend is apprehended by the police or continues to evade justice, the shadow of the avenging spirit will likely loom large over his life and the lives of his family.
