Reasons why Zimbabweans are now keeping snakes in homes

Recently in Harare, a big dead python was found on the roadside. it is alleged  that a woman in a pricey car dropped the big dead snake by the roadside in Borrowdale.
Last month in Bulawayo's New Lobengula suburb a dead python and a mamba were found at the gate of a certain house. This week, a Shurugwi woman caused a scene after a bus ran over and killed her python.
The first speculation that is crossing people's minds is that it is pure witchcraft because snakes in Bulawayo's incident had strange pieces of cloths wrapped around them.
In a bid to understand why people are now keeping snakes in their homes, an interview with several sangomas revealed possible reasons.
It is alleged that when pythons are killed, there is a special oil traditional healers use which is highly on demand.
"A lot of customers inquire about the oil and it has since come to my attention that most of them are men. Mostly the oil is used as a luck charm. When they get the oil mixed with other herbs it is a good luck charm," explained one traditional healer.
In different societies people have different beliefs pertaining to different issues. It depends on people's culture and beliefs. It is thus of importance to note the different beliefs towards superstition.
"You wake up and find big 'dressed' snakes at the gate. There is no bush in the surroundings to hide on the fact that the snakes might have come from the bush. If it was a situation where the area had a bush and that is where the snakes came from, where then did those fabrics, snuff and basket come from?" said a neighbour who chose to remain anonymous.
What people are failing to understand is how people keep live snakes in their homes. (Vanhu vakupfuya nyoka).
One sangoma explained how he deals with the pythons and mambas.
"I cut the pieces of fat from the snake, then I sell the pieces to people who want to create their oils for whatever reason. In most cases, the oils are used for healing sore ears, the drops of the snake oil does the trick," said the sangoma.
David Muhabhinyane Ngwenya, a member of the International Traditional healers Association explained what the oils are used for.
"Python oil is used in situations where people have ear problems. The oil from mamba snakes is used to protect people and families from being bewitched," he said.
Other reports also claim that python oil is so rich in vitamin E that it is often used to get rid of scars and skin rashes. In traditional Chinese medicine, snake oil has also been used for thousands of years to treat rheumatoid arthritis,
According to Wikipedia, pet pythons are relatively safe to own when proper safety is practised and deaths associated with pet pythons are very isolated when compared to other domestic animals such as dogs and horses.