Possessed village boy (15) fingers cheating woman

THE wheels of justice moved at a snail's pace for a deceased Zimunya man whose wife fell in love with his elder brother while he was still alive after the illicit affair was exposed by a possessed 15-year-old more than 32 years after his death.

It was a sorry sight at Village-head Blessing Zimunya's court under Chief Zimunya on Monday when the aged Jane Mutsonhi finally broke down into tears, in full view of her children, relatives, friends and fellow villagers, as she pleaded guilty of having fallen in love with Mafianda Rugoho, while her husband, Togarasei Rugoho was at the battle front during the liberation struggle.

The court unearthed that the two - Mafianda and his young brother's wife fell in love well before Togarasei's death and went on to hasten traditional inheritance rites (kugara nhaka) when Togarasei finally died.

Apparently, Togarasei's elder brother, Mafianda, is also now deceased.

Outlining the case, Village-head Zimunya said he was called by the police last week after a misunderstanding arose pitting the Rugoho and Mutsonhi families.

He said while at the police station, the 15-year-old boy went into a trance, narrating the late Rugoho's disgruntlement against his wife's conduct prompting the police to implore the village head to intervene and attempt to solve the issue owing to the traditional connotations attached to it.

"I was called to the police station last Wednesday where the two families (Rugoho and Mutsonhi) had sought the police intervention after a misunderstanding arose between the two families. Police officers were concerned that if the issue was not solved amicably it would degenerate into violence. Hence, they implored me to solve the issue through our traditional court system as enshrined in the constitution.

"Of interest, is the fact that while we were at the police station, the 15-year-old boy also went into a trance and started narrating the deceased Rogoho's complaints against his wife. I am giving this background so that we move at the same pace and understand the task at hand," said Village-head Zimunya as he opened the Pandora's Box.

Before Village -head Zimunya had finished outlining the matter, the 15-year-old medium suddenly went into a trance and in a subdued yet hoarse voice, the 'teenager' instantly questioned why 'his' wife was reluctant to acknowledge her wrongdoings and apologise.

"I am Togarasei. I do not want to say a lot about the bad things that were done to me. Why are you refusing to accept that you wronged me? You are aware of your shenanigans.

"This is not the first time I have demanded reparations from you, but you have been trying to sweep everything under the carpet. I wanted to make it easy for you in the past, but I now want one beast, one sheep, one goat and traditional beer. I do not want any of your (wife's) relatives to either eat the meat or touch the beer. You should also not drink the beer or eat the meat.

"After people have eaten the meat, they must not throw the bones away, but instead put them at a central position at my homestead.

"I will then instruct her to take the bones and throw them in a place I will tell her," said the possessed boy as he spoke with authority.

Some members of the Mutsonhi family initially tried to be defensive, arguing that they also felt aggrieved and demanded reparations, saying Mafianda had consulted a traditional healer who applied some tattoo marks (nyora) on her.

They tried in vain to shift the court's focus to the issue of tattoo marks and not their sister's infidelity.

Interestingly, the tattoo marks were applied as a charm meant to prevent Togarasei from making his case heard. The tattoo marks were then removed late last year at the instigation of Togarasei's son, Jeffrey.

Upon the removal of the tattoo marks, the deceased is said to have started coming back and making his case heard through various mediums within the family.

However, with mature input from fellow village-heads Tobbias Nyamana, Christopher Nyamana, Simon Mutimbanyoka, Nyika Rugoho, Peter and Ephraim Mapfurire, who all exuded unmatched wisdom and diplomacy, members of the Mutsonhi family later gave in as their daughter eventually, admitted having an affair with her husband's elder brother well before he died.

The court agreed that this was the case they should deal with first.

In a gesture of admitting her wrong doings, Jane Matsonhi was asked to hand over a stick to the presiding village-head, known as matenda mhosva.

Eventually, the Mutsonhi family begged for time to raise the required reparation and pledged to appease the deceased's spirit by the end of May as Village-head Zimunya went into a celebratory mood after managing to bring the feuding families to an understanding.

The court session then came to an end with fellow villagers taking turns to urge Togarasei Rugoho's children to accept and forgive their mother now that their father's spirit is being appeased.