Dead mother's spirit torments lecturer

DRAMA unfolded at Acting Chief Zimunya's court on Sunday when a scuffle led to the exposure of what appeared to be charms intended to block proceedings at the court.

This happened in the ongoing case of a Mutare Polytechnic College lecturer, Lizzie Bepete-Karume who is being tormented by the spirit of her departed mother that seeks appeasement for over a year now.The spirit of the departed mother, identified as Juliet Kondai-Bepete, seeks appeasement and claims she was murdered by her husband's brother's wife, Dorcas Bepete.

The spirit which has been manifesting on her is now troubling the lecturer and threatening to destroy her marriage and profession as she is no longer reporting for duty.

The case has been ongoing at Chief Zimunya's court since September last year. On Sunday, a furious and possessed Lizzie pounced on Dorcas during the court session after Dorcas remained adamant that she had not killed anyone. Lizzie strangled Dorcas by the neck and wrestled with her on the ground.

In the course of action, the African headgear (doek) that Dorcas was wearing fell off and the court was shocked to see a red and white string tied round her head.

When the tussle was stopped, Chief Zimunya asked Dorcas what the string around her head was for.

To the astonishment of the court, Dorcas replied that it was for her migrant headache.

"I have migrant headache Chief and this helps cure it. I obtained it from a prophet," responded Dorcas to the shock of most people at the court who did not believe her lullaby.

She was ordered by Chief Zimunya to remove the string before proceedings resumed.

Chief Zimunya said Dorcas should stop wasting the courts time as she was the one who was hindering progress on the matter which started in September last year.

Last year, two summons were issued out by Chief Zimunya to Dorcas for her to appear before the court to answer allegations levelled against her, but she was defiant.

Her husband, Bauline Bepete, who is said to be under her spell failed to bring her to court until Chief Zimunya sent his aide to travel to Marange to subpoena Dorcas' relatives to attend court.

In her manifestations, Lizzie revealed that Dorcas consulted a traditional healer to make her husband, Bauline and another brother, Jethro indisposed. She said Dorcas was afraid that the truth would be revealed about how she poisoned her at church which led to her death.

Joseph Bepete, a brother to Bauline, told the court on Sunday that their visit to their in-laws as instructed by the chief was fruitless.

"We went to our in-laws, but unfortunately Dorcas's father passed away last year in June so we had to look for her father's elder brother.

"We were told there that we should approach Dorcas's brothers, Zacharia and Israel Gwangwara who were left in charge of the family.

"However, the problem is that no one, including Dorcas, has their contact details and that has brought everything to a halt," said Joseph.

Chief Zimunya instructed Dorcas and the Bepete family to bring Dorcas' brothers to court on April 12 so that the matter could be resolved.

He said for the matter to be put to rest, it required the presence of all family members.