Ghost accuses ex-boy­friend from Marange of murder

A man from Marange has appeared before Chief Mutasa's community court accused of killing his live-in girlfriend and misleading her family into believing she had abandoned him.

John Chisikana is facing allegations that he orchestrated the mysterious disappearance and death of his lover, whom he had reported missing several years ago. He has consistently denied the claims.

The matter resurfaced after relatives of the deceased alleged that her restless spirit was tormenting family members and accusing Chisikana of murder, claims reportedly supported by traditional healers.

Testifying before the court, Chisikana recounted the last day he said he saw the woman alive. He told the court that he left for work at around 7am while she was asleep and returned during his tea break at about 10am to find the house empty.

"When I came back, she was gone. I only found a letter saying she was gone forever. There was no explanation," he said.

Chisikana told the court that they had been living together for only two months at the time of her disappearance and had not yet formalised their relationship.

"We were still planning our future. I had not paid roora yet," he said.

He said he immediately informed the woman's relatives about her disappearance.

"The following day I went to her aunt and explained what had happened. She told me that the woman would eventually return and that we should continue searching," he said.

Years later, however, the woman's family began accusing him of murder.

"After four years, people from her family came to me saying her spirit was manifesting through one of their relatives, accusing me of killing her," Chisikana told the court.

The matter was initially heard at Chief Marange's community court, where elders instructed the two families to jointly consult traditional healers.

"When we consulted the traditional healers, they said her spirit was roaming around me and that I was responsible for her death," Chisikana said.

He maintained his innocence, saying he only agreed to appease the spirit under pressure.

"I did not kill her. I was stressed and cornered by accusations. That is why I agreed to appease her death, even though I knew I was innocent," he said.

Chief Mutasa expressed concern over inconsistencies surrounding the woman's disappearance and questioned Chisikana's actions.

"A woman leaves your house and is never seen again. Years later, her spirit begins to speak. These are not matters this court can ignore," said the chief.

He also criticised Chisikana for agreeing to appease a death he denies causing.

"If you did not kill her, why did you agree to appease her death? People do not pay for crimes they did not commit," said Chief Mutasa, adding that traditional courts exist to uncover the truth rather than act on fear or emotion.

"A person is missing, and accusations of murder are being made. We cannot treat this lightly," he said, warning that unresolved deaths often continue to trouble families for generations.

"When blood cries from the ground, it will not stop. That is why these issues return years later," he said.

The matter was adjourned to a later date to allow for further consultations.