Rich auntie's success sparks witchcraft allegations

A woman married to a cross-border truck driver has appeared before Chief Mutasa's community court following accusations by members of her extended family that she used supernatural powers to prosper, claims that have sparked a bitter family dispute.

Phillipa Chuma told the court that the conflict erupted unexpectedly after what she believed would be a routine family phone call turned into a confrontation marked by hostility and allegations of witchcraft from her granddaughter, Gracious Chiuta.

Chuma testified that she had phoned her nephew, the son of her late sister, but the call was answered by Gracious, who allegedly responded angrily.

"Instead of greeting me, she started shouting, saying I was not her relative," said Chuma. "She accused me of being a witch and claimed I had bewitched her so that she would be forced to return from Durban, where she had been staying."

She denied the allegations, telling the court she had never practised witchcraft or harmed any member of her family. Chuma said she later reported the incident to her brother, after which Gracious' father attempted to intervene and calm the situation.

However, Chuma said the dispute escalated when Gracious allegedly grabbed the phone from her father and repeated the accusations.

"That is when I realised this was no longer a misunderstanding," she said, adding that attempts by elders to resolve the matter privately had failed, forcing the family to seek intervention from the traditional court.

Gracious denied ever accusing Chuma of witchcraft, claiming the situation had been misrepresented.

"I never called her a witch. She is the one who accused me of spreading rumours," Gracious told the court. She said she had answered the phone respectfully and was instead confronted with accusations that she had told her younger sister that Chuma was a witch.

Her denial was challenged when a call recording was produced in court involving Chuma's brother and a family friend, Fanuel Magaswa, in which Gracious was allegedly heard accusing her grandmother of witchcraft. The recording cast doubt on her version of events.

Chuma's brother, Millicent Chiuta, told the court that his sister was being targeted out of jealousy rather than any wrongdoing.

"They are blaming my sister for all their problems. They say she is the reason they are not getting married and why they do not get along," he said.

He added that the accusations stemmed from resentment over Chuma's improved living standards.

"They are jealous because she is doing well. Her husband works in the diaspora, and that has created bad blood," said Millicent, who asked the court to deal with the matter openly to clear his sister's name.

He also accused Gracious of lying under oath, saying she had previously apologised for accusing Chuma of witchcraft, claiming she had acted out of anger.

Chuma's husband, Petros Chuma, also addressed the court, rejecting the allegations and explaining that their family's income came from his work as a truck driver.

"We live well because I work hard as a truck driver, not because of witchcraft," he said. "I have never known my wife to be involved in anything like that."

He told the court that the accusations had gone as far as the creation of a WhatsApp group allegedly dedicated to attacking his wife's character.

Chief Mutasa expressed concern at the ease with which witchcraft accusations were being made within families, warning that such claims often cause lasting damage to relationships.

"Children should not involve themselves in disputes involving elders and parents," said the chief. "Being well off is not a crime, and you cannot accuse someone of witchcraft simply because they are living a better life."

He urged the family to prioritise unity and mutual respect, warning against jealousy and resentment. Chief Mutasa referred the family to a traditional healer for a clearance process, saying it could help restore peace and bring the dispute to a close.