Chiefs clash over tsikamutandas

TSHOLOTSHO chiefs have clashed over self-proclaimed witch-doctors, also known as tsikamutandas, who are allegedly causing havoc in the district.

The tsikamutandas allegedly accuse villagers of practising witchcraft and force them to pay in livestock to be cleansed.

They allegedly go on to sell the cattle to businesspeople - who are suspected to be their partners - for as little as $100 per beast yet on average one animal fetches as much as $400.

Matabeleland North Senator, Chief Gampu, said he is against witch-hunting in his area and warned headmen and village heads against inviting them.

He said he has names of businesspeople and some Government officials who are taking advantage of gullible villagers and threatened to name and shame them to end the activity.

The chief said villagers have petitioned him demanding the removal of "the daylight robbers" from the district.

"It is reported that they are demanding livestock and other property from villagers whom they accuse of practising witchcraft.

"It is alleged that they are in turn, selling those cattle for as little as $150 to business people at Tsholotsho Business Centre," said the chief.

"I have since engaged police and human rights officials to help the desperate community. When I summoned Chief Magama, in whose area of jurisdiction the practice has intensified, he admitted to having invited them into his wards for cleansing purposes. He said it was a normal traditional practice," he said.

Chief Gampu said indicating that someone was a witch or wizard is unlawful.

"Besides swindling people, they are creating hatred among villagers, resulting in violence. Villagers have reported to me that they are tired of these people and they don't want to see them anymore.

"This group of men who came from out of our province, claim to be in the district on invitation by some Government officials such as the heads of police, courts and other traditional leaders," he said.

Chief Gampu said he had reported the matter to police at local and district level and was prepared to take it up to provincial level if no corrective measures were taken.

"It was even raised and discussed on Thursday at a Chief Council's meeting that was held in Gweru. Chiefs agreed that tsikamutandas should be banned in Zimbabwe," said Chief Gampu.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Cain Mathema said witch-hunting divided communities as it caused misunderstandings among the people. He said many of the witch-hunters were charlatans out to steal people's money and livestock.

"I have said this before and I will continue to say it, these people only bring disharmony into our communities. They work with a few unscrupulous community leaders.

"In my view, they should be totally banned from society, but then, our society tends to believe that all black people are witches and wizards. This is Rhodesian socio-psychological education among blacks to hate themselves and each other and it should come to an end," said the minister.

Villagers told The Chronicle they were too afraid of tsikamutandas to resist them.

"We are being forced to attend the tsikamutandas' witch-hunting ceremonies by our local leaders. I lost two cattle, while my neighbour lost his biggest ox and two donkeys after we were accused of possessing goblins.

"Our cattle are then sold for as little as $100 to $150, which is daylight robbery but as villagers, we have no choice but to oblige," said the villager who spoke on condition of anonymity.