News / National
Restless war victim's spirit traces family
17 Oct 2015 at 05:20hrs | Views
THE spirit of a 14-year-old girl who was killed during the liberation war around 1978 in Mutasa, last week caused a stir at the Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs Mandi Chimene's offices as it manifested itself through a teenage girl demanding a decent burial.
The spirit, which identified itself as Maria, manifested through Rumbidzai Musamba (18) and further claimed to have been shot dead by Selous Scouts at Pamutamba, in Sherukuru, Mutasa. In its utterances, the spirit wanted its alleged sibling, one Charles Duri, who was also present at Minister Chimene's office, to accept her manifestation and accord her a decent burial, like fellow freedom fighters.
The manifestation saw Minister Chimene, who is also the treasurer of the Fallen Heroes' Trust of Zimbabwe, taking close to five hours with members of the affected families and their relatives, trying to find a lasting solution to the spirit's demands.
Maria's alleged brother Duri, who was accompanied by his wife and daughter Tariro were also present, initially refused having anything to do with the 'manifestation' but after exhaustive interrogation of the spirit, was left satisfied and promised to approach other family members.
Maria said she wanted to be accorded a decent burial.
The spirit's fate now rests on whether or not the Duris will accept Charles' explanation and accede to its demands.
Charles confirmed that he lost a teen sister in Mutasa during the liberation struggle.
"It's true that I had a sister who died during an attack in Mutasa, but I could not just accept the claims by the spirit on face value, without some interrogation. I had to interrogate the spirit in order to knit the pieces together and see it yield to something concrete. The spirit's confession when I asked it were correct, we were just two in the family, myself and the deceased girl. I was not questioning the legitimacy of her claims about our relationship, but there are things that she had to clarify first before we take the next step. I wanted to avoid a situation where we give in to the demands of a strange and stray spirit," said Charles.
"Atete, hapana chandirikuramba (Aunty, I am not disputing anything), but who was your father, what was his name. What was your Chimurenga name?" asked Charles.
This line of questioning appeared to have angered Maria, who argued that Charles' arrogance and ignorance would be calamitous to his entire family. This, the spirit added, would be to avenge for her rejection.
"I was taken away by my white killers. They dropped my body pamutamba. I know brother that you are not taking this seriously. I want a rest after years of wondering in wilderness. I will go if you reject me, but this will be at your own peril. In the end, you will be the one looking after me. Murikundiramba? (Are you disowning me?) I want this issue to be resolved amicably, failure of which things will not be well with your daughter whom you are refusing me to settle into. Remember, I died without bearing a child. Murikutambudza mwana (Rumbi) pamwe chete neni murikunditambudza. (You are tormenting my spirit and that of Rumbi). We should go paMutamba pandakafira. Nyaya yava mumaoko enyu kwandakafira mave kukuziva (The ball is in your court, you now know where I am). It's either you act now, or its disaster, and you will live to regret it," said the teenager.
"Ndokumbirawo kubuda ndichienda apo (Kindly allow my spirit to settle on Tariro)," she said referring to be allowed to settle on Charles' daughter Tariro.
Charles, however, could have none of it.He refused to take some tobacco snuff (bute) that had been given to Maria by an official from the Fallen Heroes Trust of Zimbabwe.
The snuff was to enable Maria to speak and identify herself through Tariro.
Incessant efforts, thereafter, to make the spirit speak through Tariro proved futile.
This was after Charles and his contingent remained defiant.
His argument was that his daughter Tariro should not be involved in the matter pending a decision by other family members.
Minister Chimene warned him of the detrimental consequences of his defiance.
Tariro too, was also unwilling and often shed tears and kept on shaking her shoulders to show her disapproval. Tariro added drama, as she sobbed bitterly and uncontrollably. She shook her head as she was made to sniff the snuff. The snuff fell on Tariro. Mariah claimed that Tariro was praying silently to stall the process.
"Mwana wenyu murikuona kunga akakosha. Maramba? Madzosa bute? Chitaurai zvamuri kuda kuita. Taurai zvine musoro (You think Tariro is special. You disowned me? You returned the snuff? Tell me your plans)," shouted Maria, who then got impatient and went mum thereafter. The Weekender learnt that the Musamba family approached Minister Chimene to assist solving the matter given her experience with FHTZ. Rumbidzai's brother, Bothwell Musamba, said they wanted Maria's spirit to depart.
He argued that the spirit was tormenting her as she often goes into trance and would go for days without eating and sleeping.
"We are troubled. Rumbi has not been herself for long. She has been behaving strangely ever since Maria's spirit took possession of her. As we speak, she had not eaten for the whole week. It was only yesterday when she roasted the whole fowl and ate. Strangely, she finished it alone. She does not like tap or borehole water. She likes drinking flowing water from the river. She can be moody or often cries," said the visibly distraught Bothwell.
"We are worried and we want this issue be solved. Charles should just accept her and solve the issue without our involvement because this has also affected her academically," he added.
Minister Chimene said it was paramount for the Duri family to own up and accept responsibility. She said Maria should be accorded a decent burial.
"It's clear that her spirit is restless. She needs to be accorded a decent burial and as it's very possible that she belongs to the Duri clan because there are certain backgrounds that they are all agreed on. I must point out that it is very critical to consider what she is saying because she is angered, and can cause distress and untold suffering to his family if they continue disowning her," she said.
The spirit, which identified itself as Maria, manifested through Rumbidzai Musamba (18) and further claimed to have been shot dead by Selous Scouts at Pamutamba, in Sherukuru, Mutasa. In its utterances, the spirit wanted its alleged sibling, one Charles Duri, who was also present at Minister Chimene's office, to accept her manifestation and accord her a decent burial, like fellow freedom fighters.
The manifestation saw Minister Chimene, who is also the treasurer of the Fallen Heroes' Trust of Zimbabwe, taking close to five hours with members of the affected families and their relatives, trying to find a lasting solution to the spirit's demands.
Maria's alleged brother Duri, who was accompanied by his wife and daughter Tariro were also present, initially refused having anything to do with the 'manifestation' but after exhaustive interrogation of the spirit, was left satisfied and promised to approach other family members.
Maria said she wanted to be accorded a decent burial.
The spirit's fate now rests on whether or not the Duris will accept Charles' explanation and accede to its demands.
Charles confirmed that he lost a teen sister in Mutasa during the liberation struggle.
"It's true that I had a sister who died during an attack in Mutasa, but I could not just accept the claims by the spirit on face value, without some interrogation. I had to interrogate the spirit in order to knit the pieces together and see it yield to something concrete. The spirit's confession when I asked it were correct, we were just two in the family, myself and the deceased girl. I was not questioning the legitimacy of her claims about our relationship, but there are things that she had to clarify first before we take the next step. I wanted to avoid a situation where we give in to the demands of a strange and stray spirit," said Charles.
"Atete, hapana chandirikuramba (Aunty, I am not disputing anything), but who was your father, what was his name. What was your Chimurenga name?" asked Charles.
This line of questioning appeared to have angered Maria, who argued that Charles' arrogance and ignorance would be calamitous to his entire family. This, the spirit added, would be to avenge for her rejection.
"I was taken away by my white killers. They dropped my body pamutamba. I know brother that you are not taking this seriously. I want a rest after years of wondering in wilderness. I will go if you reject me, but this will be at your own peril. In the end, you will be the one looking after me. Murikundiramba? (Are you disowning me?) I want this issue to be resolved amicably, failure of which things will not be well with your daughter whom you are refusing me to settle into. Remember, I died without bearing a child. Murikutambudza mwana (Rumbi) pamwe chete neni murikunditambudza. (You are tormenting my spirit and that of Rumbi). We should go paMutamba pandakafira. Nyaya yava mumaoko enyu kwandakafira mave kukuziva (The ball is in your court, you now know where I am). It's either you act now, or its disaster, and you will live to regret it," said the teenager.
"Ndokumbirawo kubuda ndichienda apo (Kindly allow my spirit to settle on Tariro)," she said referring to be allowed to settle on Charles' daughter Tariro.
The snuff was to enable Maria to speak and identify herself through Tariro.
Incessant efforts, thereafter, to make the spirit speak through Tariro proved futile.
This was after Charles and his contingent remained defiant.
His argument was that his daughter Tariro should not be involved in the matter pending a decision by other family members.
Minister Chimene warned him of the detrimental consequences of his defiance.
Tariro too, was also unwilling and often shed tears and kept on shaking her shoulders to show her disapproval. Tariro added drama, as she sobbed bitterly and uncontrollably. She shook her head as she was made to sniff the snuff. The snuff fell on Tariro. Mariah claimed that Tariro was praying silently to stall the process.
"Mwana wenyu murikuona kunga akakosha. Maramba? Madzosa bute? Chitaurai zvamuri kuda kuita. Taurai zvine musoro (You think Tariro is special. You disowned me? You returned the snuff? Tell me your plans)," shouted Maria, who then got impatient and went mum thereafter. The Weekender learnt that the Musamba family approached Minister Chimene to assist solving the matter given her experience with FHTZ. Rumbidzai's brother, Bothwell Musamba, said they wanted Maria's spirit to depart.
He argued that the spirit was tormenting her as she often goes into trance and would go for days without eating and sleeping.
"We are troubled. Rumbi has not been herself for long. She has been behaving strangely ever since Maria's spirit took possession of her. As we speak, she had not eaten for the whole week. It was only yesterday when she roasted the whole fowl and ate. Strangely, she finished it alone. She does not like tap or borehole water. She likes drinking flowing water from the river. She can be moody or often cries," said the visibly distraught Bothwell.
"We are worried and we want this issue be solved. Charles should just accept her and solve the issue without our involvement because this has also affected her academically," he added.
Minister Chimene said it was paramount for the Duri family to own up and accept responsibility. She said Maria should be accorded a decent burial.
"It's clear that her spirit is restless. She needs to be accorded a decent burial and as it's very possible that she belongs to the Duri clan because there are certain backgrounds that they are all agreed on. I must point out that it is very critical to consider what she is saying because she is angered, and can cause distress and untold suffering to his family if they continue disowning her," she said.
Source - manicapost
