Headman killed by a butterfly, witchcraft suspected

IN a suspected case of witchcraft, a 64-year-old Gokwe village head collapsed and died when a butterfly flitted around him and landed on his chest while he was picking cotton in his fields.

The village head has been identified as Mthikani Ndebele of Ndabayezolo village under Chief Njelele.

Ndebele's son, Mr Thuli Ndebele, confirmed the incident, which occurred two weeks ago.

Mr Ndebele said his family was still failing to come to grips with the strange incident, which has left tongues wagging in the village.

"We were picking cotton in our fields when a small butterfly came and landed on my father's chest. When he removed it, he started complaining of chest pains. He then collapsed and died a few minutes later while we were trying to take him home so that we could arrange transport to ake him to hospital," he said.

Mr Ndebele said another strange incident also happened during his father's burial when one of his father's brothers, disappeared with bathing water that had been used to wash the body.

"My uncle took the bathing water that we had used to wash my father's body before burial. We do not know where he took it and what he wanted to do with it," he said.

Mr Ndebele said his family suspected foul play considering that his father had received death threats from one of the villagers during a traditional court session.

"One of the villagers once threatened to bewitch my father after he presided over a case in which he was being accused of practising witchcraft," he said.

Mr Ndebele said it was not the first time that such strange things had happened in the family.

He said his brother, Mr Mazwenkosi Ndebele, died in the same manner a few years ago.

"This is not the first time this has happened in our family. My brother, Mazwenkosi, collapsed and died after he was hit on the chest by a butterfly a few years ago. We are beginning to suspect that there is someone behind all these misfortunes," he said.

Mr Ndebele said his family had approached Chief Njelele for assistance.

Chief Njelele confirmed that the Ndebele family had approached him looking for assistance after their father died mysteriously.

"The Ndebele family approached me last week asking for permission to invite an inyanga to conduct a witch-hunting ceremony to identify the culprit," he said.

Chief Njelele said there were disturbing cases of witchcraft and mysterious deaths in Ndabayezolo village that had forced him to intervene.

"Cases of witchcraft have caused commotion among Ndabayezolo villagers. However, witch-hunting only serves to divide villagers and cause more commotion," he said.