Woman found naked on in-laws' veranda

A Mutasa family dispute has drawn attention after a woman allegedly staged spiritual manifestations, appearing naked at her brother-in-law's verandah at night. The matter was brought before Chief Mutasa's community court last week.

Andrew Kasambira accused his younger brother, Takudzwa Kasambira, and sister-in-law, Margaret Muzumba, of visiting his homestead at night claiming possession by a spirit. He alleged that Muzumba's actions had caused humiliation and confusion, as villagers gossip about the unusual occurrences.

"All this started after my brother's child became sick in Grade One, and since then, my brother and his wife have accused me of causing it," Andrew said. He added that Muzumba often claimed the spirit of his late aunt was responsible and accused him of past wrongdoings, including a trip to Nyanga with traditional healers.

Andrew said the manifestations were always accompanied by nudity and only occurred at his homestead. "Sometimes she claims it is our late mother speaking through her. I believe she is stage-managing everything," he said.

Muzumba admitted she had been manifesting for about a month, claiming her actions were linked to her child's illness. Her husband, Takudzwa, said there was more to the matter, alleging that Andrew had once slaughtered a goat and fed it to children, with his child subsequently falling ill. He also referenced Andrew's past arrest on murder-related charges, which Andrew denied, saying he was exonerated decades ago.

Andrew accused his brother and sister-in-law of faking the manifestations to publicly humiliate him. "If she really manifests, why does it happen only at my homestead? Why must she come naked at night?" he asked.

Chief Mutasa expressed concern over the allegations, noting inconsistencies and stressing that nakedness and alleged possession at someone else's property bordered on public indecency. He urged the family to seek collective spiritual guidance and consult genuine traditional healers to determine the cause of the child's illness and the incidents.

"The family must work together, not in small groups. Accusations without proof will destroy you all," Chief Mutasa said. He advised both parties to consult a healer and return with a unified report to resolve the matter peacefully.

The court emphasized that the dispute should be handled carefully to restore family unity and prevent further conflict.