Man loses eye after denying traditional healer's prophecy

A traditional healer in Chitungwiza has been jailed for two years for gouging out the eye of a resident who had rebuffed his "prophetic message".

Brian Mataruse (21) was convicted of assault and sentenced when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso last week.

Mataruse wanted to pin the case on his mentally-challenged brother, Edmore, but Mr Mudzongachiso found him guilty.

Prosecutor Mr Tendai Katonha told the court: "At around 1545 hours on the 18th of February 2017, Mr Goodwill Muchimba (the complainant) was outside their gate when he was approached by Mataruse who said he had a prophecy he wanted to utter concerning him.

"Muchimba then said he was not interested in hearing the prophecy. This did not go down well with Mataruse who then threw punches at Muchimba and later struck him with a sharp object on his right eye."

A police report was made leading to Mataruse's arrest.

Mr Muchimba was attended to at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare where the damaged eye was removed.

He told The Sunday Mail, "I know these two brothers who claim to be sangomas, so the attack actually came as a surprise. Edmore grabbed my trousers while Brian struck my right eye with a sharp object.

"I did not feel any pain at that moment, but I knew something was wrong when this watery substance started oozing from my eye. I was rushed to Chitungwiza Central Hospital and later transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where I underwent surgery and the eye was removed."