Monkey drama raises witchcraft accusations

AN unexpected visitor in Cowdray Park in the form of a monkey caused commotion on Tuesday afternoon after it was found perched on a rooftop in the suburb raising suspicions of witchcraft among the residents.

Mothers with babies, grannies and children in school uniform came out to watch the monkey as it lounged on the roof for close to three hours.

When B-Metro arrived at the scene, scores of residents were milling outside the gate watching the monkey as it yawned, scratched its back while perching on top of the roof of the house whose owner identified herself only as Mai Two.

They were fuming that they had been barred by the owner of the house to chase away the animal from the roof of her house.

This, however, angered residents who started coming out with conspiracy theories on why she was protecting the animal.

"It was something unusual to see. It's not everyday you get to see a monkey in a suburb especially sitting on the roof of a house. As residents we became suspicious after the owner of the house refused to let us in so that we could chase it away.

"Why is she protecting it? And that is why people are suspecting that there is something going on with that monkey.

This is so because in this suburb there are a lot of stories involving black magic practices," queried Ndodana Moyo. Some residents however, had different views of the unexpected visitor at Mai Two's house.

"I saw it relaxing on top of the roof, so I told my friend and she didn't believe me, so she ran outside to see. I will stand and wait until it leaves because it is something exciting to see. I even brought my son to see it because he hasn't seen something like this before. It's a stray animal and people should stop suspecting any acts of witchcraft," said another resident, Angela Mpala.

MaiTwo however, defended herself saying people from the suburb were jealous of her.

"Why didn't it go to other houses and I can't allow them to go on top of my roof as they will damage my property.

There are three solar panels fitted on top of the roof and a glass geyser and I was afraid that if they pelted the animal with stones in a bid to chase it away they would destroy the solar panels and the geyser.

"I don't know why they are concerned with an animal which is not on their house. I am also suspecting that the animal might have been sent by one of the residents to attack me. This is so because last night I had a bad dream involving two black dogs.

"So that is why I said it might be acts of black magic against me. Just imagine I had been praying from the time people started gathering outside my gate," fumed Mai Two.

Residents were, however, not convinced saying they were hoping the monkey would leave before it gets dark because no one would sleep with the animal still running wild on Mai Two's roof.

When the B-Metro news crew left the scene at around 5pm the monkey was still perched on the roof and Mai Two was making frantic efforts to get in touch with her brother who reportedly came at around 7pm and removed it.