Tikoloshe burns sangoma's buttocks

A cleansing ceremony by a sangoma at a homestead in Sigonde area in Insuza District, Matabeleland North Province nearly turned tragic when he was "overpowered" and seriously burnt on the buttocks by a suspected tikoloshe he was trying to get rid off.

It is alleged that after the incident the sangoma identified as Titus Mwembe and believed to be from Jotsholo in Hwange was taken to Nkayi District Hospital where he received medication.

Although acting police spokesperson for Matebeland North Province assistant inspector Eglon Nkala could not be reached to confirm the near tragic incident which reportedly happened last week sources from the area said it happened at Isaac Dube's homestead.

The cleansing ceremony was reportedly being conducted at the behest of the Dube family after they claimed that an invisible creature they suspected to be a tikoloshe was terrorising female members of the family. It is alleged that during the night they were always making sounds as if they were having sex.They were also reportedly waking up "tired and wet in the nether regions" leading them to hire Mwembe for a cleansing.

According to a source who spoke to B-Metro the family which had been seeking help for a long time without success to stop the frequent spiritual offered Mwembe a beast as payment for his services. "On the near fateful night, Mwembe before he started performing his rituals he instructed the family to make fire at the periphery of their homestead saying that is where he was going to burn the tikoloshe after capturing it.

"After they finished making fire he quickly took his tools and went into a bedroom hut where he claimed the tikoloshe was hiding. While in the bedroom hut Mwembe immediately went into a trance after being possessed by the spirit which seemed to help him in his work. No sooner than he came out and stood at the door saying he had managed to get hold of the tikoloshe and wanted to burn it.

"However, as fate would have it he started trembling while holding the suspected mystical creature which was covered in black cloth trying to throw it into the fire ash. Before he threw it Mwembe who appeared to have been overpowered by the tikoloshe fall into the ball of fire on his back", said the source who requested not to be named.


He was later rescued by some members of the family who braved the menacing flames when they dragged to him to safety and despite the rescue he reportedly sustained burns on his buttocks.

"Although he was writhing in agony, Mwembe shockingly vowed that he was going to assist the family by removing the mystical creature terrorising them after he nursed the injuries he sustained after the freak accident," added the source.