3-month-old baby eaten alive, dies

In a strange incident that has left villagers of Matepepe Farm compound in Marondera dumbfounded, a three-month-old baby was mysteriously 'eaten' alive.

The incident occurred on Monday night when the child was reportedly maimed on the cheek and head, a few minutes after her mother had gone out. Their child was 'eaten' again the following morning after being taken to hospital, resulting in her death.

The compound seems to be haunted, following revelations of witchcraft-related happenings, according to residents.

"I was left with the child when her mother went out and I mysteriously fell asleep that I could not hear anything. When I woke up that is when we found the child bleeding. Her cheek and head had been 'eaten' away," said David Chimuka, the baby's father.

The visibly distressed man added that they rushed to a prophet for spiritual intervention and a strange animal emerged from the house.

"We rushed to a prophet for help and we were told the animal that had maimed the child was in the house and was after me. We were given holy water which we sprinkled around the house and a strange animal which looked like a cat mysteriously emerged and escaped," said the baby's father.

Chimuka said on Tuesday morning, on their way to the clinic, the child died but mysteriously resurrected and they rushed to another prophet for help.

"We decided to take the child to hospital the following morning. The baby died along the way. She stopped everything even breathing, but she then 'resurrected'. We approached a prophet and we received prayers before we proceeded to the hospital to have the wounds dressed, but we were told that the child would not survive because of the head injury," he narrated.

It is said the child was again attacked after they returned home, with the bandages and medicine removed.

"I decided to visit and inform our uncles in another village of the matter. My brother then followed me and informed me that the child had been attacked again. My wife took her back to the prophet where she died as the prophet was away," he said.

His brother Godknows echoed the same account, saying he witnessed the strange incident. The child was buried yesterday morning. Villagers said they were living in fear following strange happenings in the compound and most of them suspected witchcraft.

"There have been strange happenings in this compound. At first, a pregnant woman faced uncounted challenges resulting in multiple miscarriages. When the foetuses were buried, people would find the graves opened and the bodies missing," said a compound elder.

Reports say a sangoma was called last month to address the situation and a 'witch' was found. The alleged witch reportedly sought the help of the police and the matter went through the courts.

"There is a woman was found in possession of a mysterious creature that was causing havoc. This did not go down well with her and because of her connections, she called the police and there were gun shots in the presence of villagers. She dragged the sangoma to court but she lost the case," he said.

A new scourge of hysteria has reportedly hit the compound again, threatening to harm all the minor children. The villagers said they know the 'witch' and appealed to be given the powers to 'deal' with her.

"Muroyi tinomuziva (umthakathi siyamazi). (We know the witch). We wish to thoroughly beat her up but we would then get arrested. She once called the police and they fired gun shots in our presence," said another villager.