Panic after sangoma's death, clients throng home to return charms

THERE is gnashing of teeth among those who sought lucky charms from prominent traditional healer, Sekuru Charles Makuyana-Ndunge, who died in Chipinge on March 30, 2019 after a courageous battle with diabetes.

His son, Jabulani aged 44 told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that Sekuru Ndunge's clients were making a beeline to their Southdown home to return lucky charms and other paraphernalia given to them by the late Sangoma to enhance their businesses and cast out evil spirits.

Unfortunately, Jabulani who has succeeded his father is unable to assist.

"While I have not been keeping count, it is quite a number," he said, after being asked if he could quantify the number of people who want to return their accessories.

"These are people who are just panicking because of what is circulating on social media," he added.

Ndunge died at his Makuyana Village home in Southdown, Chipinge after a long battle with diabetes.

He was aged 87, although other accounts put his length of life at 90.

He is survived by his wife, nine children and more than 30 grandchildren.

Thousands of people attended his burial on Wednesday at his Makuyana Village, some coming from as far as South Africa.

Sekuru Ndunge attained legendary status in his 71 years of healing, having embarked on the trade in 1948.

Because of his healing prowess, he would attract clientele from across the globe.

Unlike other traditional healers who die poor, Sekuru Ndunge was counted among the nouveau riche in Chipinge.

His home resembled a busy car park.

Sekuru Ndunge was a proud owner of over 30 vehicles, cutting across all familiar brands.

He received some of the automobiles as gifts from satisfied customers who were only too happy to refer their colleagues to the doyen of local traditional medicine.

So busy was Sukuru Ndunge that for 27 years, he could hardly find time to drive into the nearby Chipinge town as he dedicated his life to helping others.

Because he would spend long hours indoors, attending to clients in his own version of a "consultation room", Sekuru Ndunge had turned pale in complexion — a sign of not getting enough vitamin D.

In his 71 years of plying the trade, Sekuru Ndunge's fame grew in leaps and bounds.

He was famed for his ability to turn around people's fortunes in relationships, workplaces and business.

The traditionalist reportedly even had the magical powers to grow bank balances, curse enemies and create lightning to strike particular targets.

Some of his competences gave rise to suspicions that his trade was steeped in the dark arts of witchcraft.

It is this dimension that has struck fear, rightly or wrongly, into the hearts of those who got assistance from him.

But Jabulani, who was still on apprenticeship when Sekuru Ndunge passed on, has no immediate answers for them.

"These are people who got these things because they liked them and now they want to get rid of them for fear of what is being said on social media," he wondered.

"We are not taking back anything…My father never gave anyone anything that would hurt them.

"When God gives people such gifts, He would have searched their hearts. If you give a stick to a madman it would certainly (be used to) spell doom to society. Traditional healers are there to serve society and not to bring them harm," he added.

Sekuru Ndunge, Jabulani said, did not include the use of goblins as prescriptions as is being peddled in some social circles.

"My father did not use goblins or gave such out. Every traditional healer has his or her own unique art and yes dark spells exist, and goblins are there and are used by some.

"What you should know is that as long as something has a name, it means it actually exists but my father had his own methods which did not include these things," he said.

Jabulani said it would not be feasible to return anything.

"If someone was barren and they got assisted what is it that they would return? The children? Or if they had some medicine rubbed on cuts to their body, will we have to drain their blood because that is where the medicine would have gone?" he asked.

He said he is determined to carry on with his father's trade once the traditional rites are over and done with.

"We have not started assisting people because it's too early after his death and that would be a taboo. There are also some rituals that need to be completed before we resume this work.

"But be assured that no matter what people say, this practice will never die in our family," he said.