Businessman exposes fake witch hunters on CCtv

A dramatic scene unfolded in Umguza District, just after the Airport turn-off along Nkayi Road, when a successful businessman turned the tables on two self-proclaimed Tsikamutandas who had accused him of using witchcraft to enrich himself.

The man's own relatives had fallen under the spell of superstition, convinced that their misfortunes - poverty, poor harvests, and unemployment — were the result of his alleged involvement with "ondofa," a mythical spirit believed to bring wealth to its owner by draining the fortunes of others.

The tension escalated when two Tsikamutandas visited the area, claiming they could "cleanse" the homestead of the supposed goblin for a fee of US$1,000. The traditional healers told the family that the businessman had used dark powers to attain his wealth and that a ritual would expose the evil spirit tormenting them.

Instead of resisting, the businessman calmly agreed to the ritual - and even offered to pay in full. What the self-proclaimed witch hunters did not know, however, was that the house was fitted with CCtv cameras in every room.

The next day, the Tsikamutandas arrived and asked for privacy to perform their ceremony. They requested water and salt, claiming these were sacred tools to weaken the spirit. As one muttered incantations and sprinkled the mixture, the other discreetly slipped a sedated iguana from a plastic bag and placed it behind the door. Moments later, they lit herbs in a plate, letting smoke fill the room before triumphantly declaring that the goblin had manifested itself.

They summoned the family inside and pointed to the terrified iguana. "Behold! This is what has been destroying your lives!" one of them shouted. Shocked relatives gasped, believing the so-called spirit had been caught.

But before the deceit could take deeper root, the businessman stepped forward, holding a TV remote. He calmly asked everyone to sit down and watch something. As the screen lit up, footage from the CCtv cameras revealed the entire charade — every move, every whisper, every deceitful act. The room fell silent as the family watched the Tsikamutandas planting the iguana themselves.

The revelation triggered outrage. Relatives and onlookers burst into the room, confronting the fraudsters. Chaos ensued as the crowd beat and restrained the men before handing them over to the police.

Speaking after the ordeal, the businessman said the incident was a wake-up call for the community. "These fake prophets are destroying our communities," he said. "They feed on fear and ignorance. If not for the CCtv, my family would have been torn apart."

The case has become the talk of Umguza, serving as a stark warning about the rise of fraudulent traditional healers who exploit desperation and superstition for profit. For the businessman, however, the cameras not only proved his innocence - they exposed a growing scourge that preys on the vulnerable.