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Police launch manhunt for tsikamutandas
A major crackdown on rogue witch hunters known as Tsikamutandas has been launched in Zaka and Nyajena districts of Masvingo Province, following rising reports of fraud, family disruptions, and illegal...Published: 07 Jun 2025 at 15:06hrs | 1040 | by Staff reporter
Witch hunting is a criminal offence
In Zimbabwe, it is a criminal offense to accuse someone of witchcraft, a law designed to prevent social unrest and violence stemming from such accusations. Individuals found guilty of making these cla...Published: 20 Sep 2024 at 08:19hrs | 776 | by Staff reporter
Witch hunters sent to prison
Four self-proclaimed witch hunters are in trouble after they trespassed into a Plumtree resident's yard and accused his wife of being a witchMongameli Ncube (26), Prosper Maphosa (45), Jer...Published: 13 Sep 2024 at 14:08hrs | 543 | by Simbarashe Sithole
Villagers engage witch hunters in search of missing baby
Villagers in Lupane, Matabeleland North province, have enlisted witch hunters to help locate four-year-old Milton Tshuma, who went missing on March 15. The boy was under the care of neighbors while hi...Published: 20 Jul 2024 at 11:51hrs | 189 | by Staff reporter
Witch hunters wreak havoc in Mhondoro-Ngezi
Stories of witch hunters wreaking havoc in rural areas have been told repeatedly, but gullible villagers continue to fall victim to the scammers.Known as tsikamutandas or gauras, the purported...Published: 07 Jan 2024 at 17:40hrs | 30 | by Staff reporter
Outcry over witch hunters
HUMAN rights watchdog Coalition for Citizens Advocates (Coca) has petitioned Midlands police against the activities of witch-hunters popularly known as tsikamutandas in Zvishavane.They are rep...Published: 19 Feb 2023 at 18:18hrs | 13 | by Staff reporter
Chief fines witch hunters
CHIEF Nyangazonke of Kezi's traditional court last Friday fined two witch hunters — Lloyd Chimanya (32) and his assistant Sergeant Chidyodyo — three cows and four goats for illegally operating in ...Published: 29 Aug 2022 at 06:31hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
Witch hunters trigger crisis meeting
CHIEF Bekezela Sibanda Sibasa of Filabusi last week called a crisis meeting with villagers, human rights watchdogs and the police to discuss witch hunters (tsikamutandas) who he said were wreaking hav...Published: 23 Aug 2022 at 06:30hrs | | by Staff reporter
Chief summons witch hunter
A TRADITIONAL leader in Kezi, Chief Nyangazonke has summoned a tsikamutanda (witch hunter) operating in the area to explain his activities.Tsikamutandas are reportedly wreaking havoc in Matabe...Published: 12 Aug 2022 at 06:40hrs | 24 | by Staff reporter
Police petitioned over Filabusi tsikamutandas
GWANDA-based human rights watchdog, Coalition for Citizens Advocates (Coca) has petitioned police in Matabeleland South to deal with tsikamutandas (witch hunters) who are "fleecing" Filabusi villages ...Published: 11 Aug 2022 at 06:44hrs | 8 | by Staff reporter
Senior cop sucked in cattle rustling racket
A senior female police officer based at Lupane Police Station in Matabeleland North Province is at the centre of cattle rustling racket amid revelations that she allegedly connived with two witch-hunt...Published: 05 Nov 2021 at 06:59hrs | 3 | by Staff reporter
Bare footed Tsikamutanda flees from police
There was drama in Kazunga village,Guruve when an unidentified Witch hunter popularly known as Tsikamutanda took to his heels in his regalia while bare fo...Published: 08 Feb 2021 at 19:40hrs | 13 | by Simbarashe Sithole
Chiefs in a fix over settling witchcraft cases
TRADITIONAL leaders in Matabeleland said they were in a fix over how to handle cases of witchcraft because of the contradictions between constitutional law and local culture.The Constitution d...Published: 11 Dec 2018 at 05:46hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Ginyilitshe defends Zimbabwe military coup in new book
Ambassador Cain Mathema, who is also the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs, has written and published a book entitled: 'I Defend Zimbabwe`s Defence and Security Forces,' with...Published: 14 Dec 2017 at 09:14hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Man fathers son with own daughter
In a bizarre incident a 78-year-old man from St Albert's in Mashonaland Central allegedly raped his daughter and fathered a son.Vasco Vega (78) from Gweshure village under chief Nembire was ex...Published: 16 Nov 2017 at 15:55hrs | 1 | by Simbarashe Sithole
'Flying witch' falls, breaks arms and legs
A self proclaimed witch allegedly broke her legs and arms after falling from a winnowing basket in an alleged 'head on collision' in the air.The 73 year old widow, Regina Simion, from Lucknow ...Published: 11 Nov 2017 at 20:20hrs | 5 | by Simbarashe Sithole
Tsikamutandas planted strange objects
FAKE Tsikamutandas in Chakohwa Village are placing witchcraft paraphernalia in villagers' homesteads and accusing people of possessing goblins in an attempt to lure clients.This was revealed b...Published: 04 Nov 2017 at 05:27hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
'Headman's snake' wipes out village herd
JACK the snake!A headman from Insuza Matabeleland North's Village 19, Cephas Mdlongwa is being accused of owning a snake that has killed villagers' livestock.The snake reportedly resid...Published: 08 Sep 2017 at 06:57hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
Witch hunters in bid to kill magistrates
BUSINESS at the Gweru Magistrates' Court was brought to a standstill on Friday after two self-proclaimed tsikamutandas arrived at the court looking for two magistrates and an interpreter saying they w...Published: 11 Jul 2017 at 07:58hrs | | by Staff reporter
'Tsikamutanda prefer python just like prophets use annointing water'
Witch hunters in Zimbabwe popularly known as Tsikamutanda and other traditional healers seem to have a strange love affair with pythons.If media reports are anything to go by...Published: 10 May 2017 at 10:01hrs | 1 | by Mary Charamba
Mugabe's minister at war with witch-hunters
President Robert Mugabe's top representative in Matabeleland North, Provincial Affairs minister Cain Mathema is at war with witch-hunters as he has instructed the police and headmen to flush out...Published: 27 Apr 2017 at 04:58hrs | | by Staff Reporter
Chief in trouble over tricksters Tsikamutanda
The provincial assembly of chiefs in Mashonaland Central reportedly ordered Chief Makope to dismiss a witch hunter (Tsikamutanda) who are allegedly cleansing Chipanza farm.Chief Makope (Jacob ...Published: 22 Apr 2017 at 20:24hrs | 4 | by Simbarashe Sithole
Kezi Chief decries tsikamutanda menace
CHIEF Nyangazonke of Kezi, Matabeleland South has said self-proclaimed witch-hunters commonly known as tsikamutanda are causing havoc in his area as they are allegedly demanding livestock from vil...Published: 16 Mar 2017 at 10:15hrs | | by Staff reporter
Tsikamutanda: Hunting the hunters
A team of law enforcement agents has been dispatched in the country's 10 provinces to curb the fraudulent operations of self-proclaimed witch hunters (tsikamutandas), a senior police official has ...Published: 11 Dec 2016 at 08:25hrs | 4 | by Staff reporter
Chief wants tsikamutandas outlawed
TSIKAMUTANDAS are causing havoc across the country and must be jailed as they are a danger to society, the president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira (pictured), has said....Published: 03 Nov 2016 at 05:00hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
'We can raise the dead but...' witch hunters claim
A gang of Binga witch hunters claim to have powers to raise the dead on condition that one would have died to witchcraft.The leader of the group - Baba Maponga has been calling...Published: 10 Jun 2016 at 08:01hrs | | by Staff reporter
Man drops out of school to have sex with a rabbit
A Mbembesi man claims for 17 years he had everyday sex with a beautiful woman that has come to be identified as a mysterious hare.Bekithemba Mloyi (27) told a local tabloid that for the past 1...Published: 17 Feb 2016 at 19:09hrs | | by Staff Reporter
Goblins haunt village heads over food aid
In a shocking development that has left many traditional leaders frightened in Masvingo's Mwenezi district, two village heads from Chief Neshuro's area are being haunted by goblins demanding their mas...Published: 21 Nov 2015 at 17:01hrs | 11 | by Johannes Chin'ombe
Man rises from the dead to have sex with wife
A DEAD man's spirit was brought back to life in order to have sex with its widow in the process tearing the family apart.The weird incident has become the talk of the whole Mvundlana village c...Published: 13 Oct 2015 at 08:38hrs | | by Siphilisiwe Mloyi
Bogus witch hunters who dupe villager of two cattle in a fake ritual trial date set
Trial date for one of the two bogus witch hunters who promised to assist an Insuza villager recover his six cattle that were stolen through conducting rituals and later charged him two beasts has been...Published: 10 Oct 2015 at 09:07hrs | 1 | by Stephen Jakes
Evil spirits descend on school
ABOUT 80 pupils staying at Mbuyazwe High School in Umguza, Matabeleland North were sent home after a number of them suffered from hysteria in a suspected attack from what villagers said were evil spir...Published: 27 May 2015 at 11:40hrs | | by Siphilisiwe Mloyi
Teenage Tsikamutanda kidnaps villagers
A Hwange teenager led six elderly men in a group that masqueraded as witch hunters, popularly known as Tsikamutandas, in kidnapping and terrorising villagers in Jambezi, Matabeleland North. ...Published: 29 Mar 2015 at 15:46hrs | | by Staff Reporter
Goblins terrorise school pupils
LARGER-than-life occurrences are happening in Muradzikwa Village under Chief Zimunya where goblins are said to be terrorising school children at Mabiya Primary School.The pupils were reportedl...Published: 21 Mar 2015 at 08:41hrs | | by Liberty Dube
Mysterious fires wreak havoc
MYSTERIOUS fires are allegedly giving villagers sleepless nights in Masvingo's Chief Zimuto area amid confirmation that self-proclaimed witch hunters known as tsikamutandas have been hired to cleanse ...Published: 02 Nov 2014 at 11:58hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Energy minister threatens to unleash Zanu PF youths on 'tsikamutandas'
Energy and Power Development minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has threatened to unleash Zanu PF youths on witch hunters who were allegedly terrorising villagers in Marondera.The tsikamutandas, as th...Published: 02 Aug 2014 at 16:45hrs | | by Staff Reporter
Sabhuka hospitalised after being hit by an 'angry goblin' during exorcism
An exorcism ritual conducted by two Tsikamutandas (witch hunters) in Bhalagwe village in Kezi left the village head hospitalised after being stoned by an 'angry goblin'.The village head,...Published: 09 Jan 2014 at 23:43hrs | 11 | by Staff Reporter
Traditional chiefs ban witch-hunters
TWELVE traditional leaders from Chikomba district in Mashonaland East have banned the operations of witch hunters popularly known as tsikamutanda in their area.The move came after a number of ...Published: 01 Oct 2013 at 05:16hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
Harare witches exposed as hookers hired by publicity seeking prophet
TWO women who were reportedly found undressed, sitting in winnowing baskets with an assortment of paraphernalia associated with witchcraft, including an owl, in the wee hours of the morning, are sai...Published: 21 Sep 2013 at 09:50hrs | 3 | by Staff reporter
Tsikamutandas wreak havoc
Self-proclaimed witch-doctors commonly known as tsikamutandas are causing havoc in Chief Mudavanhu's area in Mberengwa where they are reportedly demanding livestock from villagers whom they accuse of...Published: 29 Aug 2013 at 05:04hrs | | by Staff reporter
'Witch-hunters' freed by police
Witch-hunters in Mhundwa area in Seke Communal Lands, who have so far collected over 20 cattle from villagers, are back in business after they were picked up by the police for questioning a fortnight ...Published: 25 Aug 2013 at 15:10hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
Police warn witch-hunters
POLICE have warned self-proclaimed witch-hunters in Seke communal lands who are forcing villagers to part with their livestock as payment, after accusing them of being witches and wizards.In ...Published: 18 Aug 2013 at 15:21hrs | | by Staff reporter
Tsikamutanda's in court for extortion
Six witch hunters (tsikamutandas) who reportedly extorted people in Beatrice after coercing them to attend their ritual cleansing ceremony and demanding payment have appeared in court.The six...Published: 12 Jun 2013 at 03:49hrs | | by Court Reporter
Man killed in SA, legs and private parts found in Tsholotsho granary
A family from Vulashaba area in Tsholotsho left villagers dumb-founded when they buried a half body of their son which was found in their granary by a witch hunter (tsikamutanda) who was cleansing the...Published: 02 Mar 2013 at 05:04hrs | 2 | by Staff reporter
Goblins saga, girl dies under 'mysterious' circumstances
A Grade Seven pupil has died under "mysterious" circumstances at Nhlupho Primary School in Kezi District, where a recent goblin exorcism ceremony resulted in the village head committing suicide....Published: 29 May 2012 at 05:06hrs | 9 | by Staff reporter
'Goblin' found in classroom with blood sprinkled on walls
Satanists and witches at school? Teachers and pupils at Deli primary school in Nyamamdlovu, Matabeleland North are living in fear following a peculiar incident; where they found the school gate and ...Published: 23 Mar 2012 at 09:32hrs | | by Staff reporter
Nigerian 'Lady Apostle' claims she's trying to 'set captives free', critics say she incites child killings
As a former teenage witch, the popular but controversial Nigerian religious leader Helen Ukpabio claims she was betrothed to Satan then saved at 17 "to set the captives free by the gospel."He...Published: 10 Mar 2012 at 04:45hrs | | by Staff reporter
Police thwart Tsikamutandas
THE use of supernatural powers to either cause harm or to heal has always been part of our culture as Africans.As such, over the centuries, society has come to accept the existence of people w...Published: 22 Jan 2012 at 09:11hrs | 1 | by Staff reporter
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