Sangoma snatches married woman

A marriage dispute has taken a dramatic turn after a Chikanga man accused his wife of secretly staying at the home of a well-known Bocha traditional healer, allegations she denies, insisting she sought spiritual help to save their troubled marriage.

The matter came before Chief Mutasa's community court on Saturday, where Ezra Chibvuri sought the traditional leader's intervention following the breakdown of his marriage to Linet Makunike.

Chibvuri told the court that his wife repeatedly disappeared from their matrimonial home for days without explanation before eventually leaving the marriage altogether.

He said his suspicions began when Makunike claimed she was travelling to Bocha to care for her sick mother. Trusting her explanation, he allowed her to go and remained in contact with her by phone throughout the five-day trip.

However, he said doubts emerged after she later disappeared again for several days without informing him of her whereabouts.

"I believed what she had told me because she kept updating me while she was away. At that stage, I had no reason to doubt her," Chibvuri told the court.

He said his concerns deepened after the couple searched for alternative accommodation and Makunike travelled alone to secure a new house because he was unable to accompany her.

According to Chibvuri, her behaviour upon returning home was unusual.

"I was surprised when she immediately took a bath using cold water, something she had never done before. It was completely out of character and it left me wondering whether something unusual had happened," he said.

He further alleged that shortly afterwards she left home again without informing him where she was going.

Chibvuri claimed he attempted to follow her but she fled after noticing him, leaving behind a bag which he alleged contained traditional charms.

When she failed to return, he reported her missing to the police and informed both families.

"I contacted her parents hoping they knew where she was, but both denied having seen her. That is when I realised that something was seriously wrong," he said.

Chibvuri said he later travelled to Bocha with some of Makunike's relatives, only to discover that her mother had never been ill and had not hosted her daughter during the period she claimed to have been there.

"That revelation completely changed my understanding of everything because the explanation I had trusted turned out not to be true," he said.

He further testified that after tracing a telephone number used by his wife, he travelled with one of her brothers to Bezel Bridge, where they were directed to the homestead of a popular traditional healer, Sekuru Chaburuka.

According to Chibvuri, he was initially informed that the healer was asleep before discovering that his wife was inside the premises.

"When I realised she was there, she immediately ran back into the house. This confirmed my suspicions," he alleged.

He further claimed the traditional healer initially refused to allow him access to his wife and only released her after police intervention was threatened.

Chibvuri also accused some of Makunike's relatives of behaving violently during the dispute and alleged that she had left with US$500, although he later recovered the money.

In her defence, Makunike admitted leaving the marriage but denied having a romantic relationship with Sekuru Chaburuka.

Instead, she told the court she had sought the healer's assistance because her marriage had become unbearable due to persistent domestic violence.

"I did not go there because I was involved with the healer. I was seeking help to save my marriage because I believed there were deeper spiritual problems affecting our relationship," she said.

Makunike acknowledged lying to her husband about visiting her mother, explaining that she feared he would prevent her from consulting the traditional healer if she disclosed her true destination.

She said she had been staying with her sister-in-law during the five-day period.

"I lied because I knew he would stop me from going. The healer is related to my sister-in-law, and I was referred there for assistance. I was told that unresolved family issues from both my mother's and father's families were contributing to my marital problems and that certain traditional obligations had to be fulfilled," she said.

Chief Mutasa questioned Makunike over her allegations of domestic violence, asking why she had sought help from a traditional healer instead of reporting the alleged abuse to the police.

According to proceedings before the court, Makunike did not respond to the question.

Chief Mutasa ruled that it would be premature to make a determination without hearing from all the individuals mentioned during the proceedings.

He ordered that Sekuru Chaburuka, together with Chibvuri's sister, who was also cited during testimony, be summoned to appear before the court.

"We cannot reach a fair conclusion after hearing only one side of the story. Those who have been mentioned must appear before this court so that the truth can be established," Chief Mutasa said.

The matter was adjourned to July 11 to allow the witnesses to be subpoenaed.