Witchcraft rocks MDC-T primaries

MUTARE - In a bizarre case of suspected ritual sacrifices, residents of Mundembe suburb in Sakubva woke up to a shock of their lives when they discovered suspicious items at the incumbent councillor's door step.

Mutare Central Ward four re-elected councillor Edson Kalulu who won resoundingly in the just ended MDC-T primary elections had his celebration mood cut short by a seemingly political backlash motivated creepy act of vengeance. The primary election battle saw sitting councillor Kalulu, defeating other three contestants who included Pauline Hendeni, Ernest Manzinde and Susan Makombere well known as "Mai Tracy".

In an interview with the councillor, he confirmed that, early Sunday morning, the whole surrounding neighbourhood work up to find a clay-pot, a small bag, a bottle containing what seemed like water, roots, black human hair, two needles, a small used broom and a threatening handwritten letter  at his door step.

"I'm not sure who did this but I was shaken when I woke up to find a clay-pot, small bag, bottle of what looked like water, roots, black human hair, two needles, small used broom and a written letter which said, 'You won't last this whole year", "Gore rino hauripedzi" he said.

According to Alderman Kalulu, he wasn't sure about the person who did this but strongly suspected that this might be an act of retaliation by his bitter neighbours or the supporters of his rivals whom he defeated on the just ended MDC-T primary elections as they seem to be saddened by his victory.

"I suspect that, the supporters of my opponents might have done this as they are saddened by their loss in the primary elections" he said. 

After discovering strange items, the Councillor decided to call a prominent Mutare based prophet with a shrine in Maonde known as Madzibaba Skynage who promptly came and conducted a ritual cleansing and later burnt the mysterious items that took nearly two hours from 6am – 9am.

"After I saw these suspicious items I called Prophet Skynage to help in the cleansing of these weird objects because I was afraid to handle it alone." He said.

According to a witness Grace Zengeni, she said, "this was just an intimidation as nothing was going to happen".

A second anonymous witness, "It was probably a stage managed thing meant to attract sympathy votes for the incumbent."

"Since we are in election period and this can be a strategy used by the incumbent to garner more votes"