Woman dies at sangoma's place trying to terminate pregnancy

Harare mother of 1 dies at sangoma, tries to terminate pregnancy carrying twins A Kuwadzana woman died at a suspected sangoma's place in Tafara on Wednesday morning, amid reports that she was attempting to terminate her pregnancy,

She was reportedly dropped at the 'doctor' Mai Doricah's lodgings by her boyfriend, with her wares including cotton wool. The spine chilling incident occurred at the Lambiki residence at No. 5212, Hambakubvi Cycle and the the deceased was only identified as Mai Precious and it emerged that she was a mother of one.

Hordes of people were gathered at the house, intending to catch a glimpse of the deceased and because of the lapse in security (no police officers were present) some even attempted to break windows to gain entry into the room where the deceased lay. She was reportedly found dead on the sangoma's bed moments after she entered the room, with foam on her mouth and a plate of porridge near her suggesting that she might have been fed with some concoction.

A close source said Mai Doricah - the sangoma, served the deceased with a plate of porridge before she went out and only to be called after the woman had died. Sources at the house also revealed that they were called into the house only to find the woman dead, frothing from the mouth and her legs open making people think that she wanted to have her pregnancy terminated. They revealed that the deceased had been seen visiting her 'doctor' for the past three days.

"She was dropped here by a guy in a green tracksuit bottom. She was limping and breathing heavily and she asked for Mai Doricah and I knocked at the door for her. She entered the room and she slept on the floor. She then went onto the bed and she was served with porridge," said the source.

The source said she peeped into the room and saw foam coming out of the woman's mouth prompting her to call elders and Mai Doricah.

"It was then discovered that she had died and we learnt that she wanted to terminate the pregnancy," said the source.

The plate of porridge was reportedly taken to the police station for further investigations. The house owners were finding it difficult to control the mob as stunned residents were accusing them of killing the woman.

The landlord said he did not know of Mai Doricah's healing works and that she had stayed at the house for only three months.

"I do not know of her healing powers and it does not concern me. All I want is my rent and the end of the month and whoever she brings and what she does is her business. It is however sad that something like this has happened and it paints a bad picture of my house as people are saying all sorts of things," he said.

Mai Doricah could not be located as she was reportedly in the hands of the police and the alleged boyfriend was just 'stuck' at the police station, presumably pondering his next move. The boyfriend's marital status could not be verified.

Sources, however, claimed that Mai Doricah is not a traditional healer. They alleged that her mother instead is the traditional healer. Some residents who claimed to have information on Mai Doricah described her as a 'mobile clinic' and well known in the pregnancy terminating trade'.

People were shouting: "This woman is not a traditional healer. All she wants is money. Terminating pregnancies is her profession. She is actually a mobile clinic."

Harare provincial police spokesperson was not available for comment.