Witches use python to fly and cobra to spit drought

witches

Mutare - A young woman from Munyoro area of Mutare District on Sunday confessed to being a witch before a chief's court, claiming that she and her uncle had used two snakes .

The  python and a spitting cobra believed to have powers to stop rains from falling in Mutare area.

The teenager, Tsitsi Matimbe (18), spoke with confidence as she narrated how she was initiated into the macabre underworld activities by her aunt and uncle before hundreds of people who had gathered at Acting Chief Zimunya's court to hear for themselves the story behind the mysterious snakes believed to have caused anxiety among villagers and urbanites in Mutare District following the persistent dry spell.

Rains only fell in most parts of Mutare District last week after almost one and half months of no rainfall activities and this prompted many people to believe that there were supernatural powers behind the dry spell.

The snake story has been the talk of the city in the past two weeks, with so many versions being brought forward. Some were claiming that the snake was very big and would fill a scotch-cart, while others said a haulage truck had to be hired to ferry the snake to Mutare Museum where people were being charged $5 to view it.

Others went to suggest that the one of the snakes, a python, had eggs and the rains would only fall after hatching in six months time. However, Tsitsi's confession put to rest the speculation as she took people at Acting Chief Zimunya through some of the nocturnal activities they were engaged in and the misery they had brought to their family and other villagers.

Most of the stuff she narrated sent shivers down the spines of many and many people gathered among them experts from the Mutare Museum's Department of Botany and Zoology were left shaking their heads in disbelief.

Although the alleged owner of the snakes, Abisha Matimbe from Masibango Village in Headman Munyoro's area of Zimunya failed to appear before Acting Chief Zimunya after he allegedly escaped from his home when the chief's aide wanted to arrest him and take him to the court, his relatives among them his brothers, Taberirevhu Zvashata, Richard Matimbe and niece Tsitsi confirmed that he was indeed in possession of the snakes.
However, Abisha's wife, Marble Tandi professed ignorance about the snakes and said she only came to know of their existence when her husband appeared before Headman Munyoro last year over the same case.

Narrating their modus operandi, Tsitsi said she had more than 10 years of witchcraft experience, having been initiated into the practice by her aunt, Richard's wife, Gladys Kokera. Kokera has since fled her matrimonial home for Masvingo following Tsitsi's confession.Her husband, Richard confirmed Gladys' departure on December 24 last year.

"We are a team of four, my uncle, Abisha, Gladys, my grandmother (Mbuya Matimbe) and myself. We use Sekuru Abisha's python to fly whenever we have an errand to do. We can travel to far away places and have the powers to enter into dead people's graves.

"We use male organs we obtain from people we would have ‘darted’ to open the graves. Mbuya Matimbe has a calabash full of blood, which is obtained from people's graves. The calabash is kept in a hill near our homestead.

"Sekuru Abisha has two snakes, a python (shato) and a Mozambican spitting cobra (pfira/mhakure). Whenever it is about to rain, the spitting cobra will raise its head and spit venom in the air, causing clouds to disappear. These snakes are in the garden and some villagers can testify having come across them," she said, amid sobs.

Her uncle and eldest brother, Mr Zvashata who described his relatives as satanic, said one of their relatives with an air gun came across one of the snakes and tried to shoot it some time ago, but was barred by Abisha.When contacted for a comment, former Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association secretary-general, Mr Alex Mashoko, said there were people with magical powers to do anything they please.

"Yes, a snake can be used to stop rains, but on a small area and not the whole of Zimbabwe. This is a supernatural world we are talking about and not the real world where everyone knows the process involved in rain making. People who possess such magical powers are very dangerous and can bring a lot of suffering to the whole community.

"We have the powers to destroy these evil things, but we will only act if we are approached by the concerned parties. It is sad to hear that these witches are even using young children and these children will not lead a normal life. Their marriages will not last," said Mr Mashoko.

Tsitsi said she mysteriously lost her son after testifying about her relatives' witchcraft during the first court hearing on January 4.

"When I gave birth, my son would not suckle for the whole week, prompting my husband and relatives to consult a prophet where the truth of our witchcraft practice came out. Following my confession, my son was able to suckle. What I now want is my freedom and I have lost my baby in a mysterious way. He died the day after my testimony before Chief Zimunya's court," she said as tears continued trickling down her cheeks.Mr Zvashata said his family had not known any peace since the 1980s because of his relatives' evil deeds.

"Everything is falling apart in our family. We are having mysterious deaths while our aunties are having failed marriages. Everywhere we are going to seek help, we are being told that the root cause of all our problems is in our midst.

“All fingers point at Abisha and he even dragged us to the community court seeking a peace order. We hope that all the paraphernalia he uses in his trade will be destroyed soon," said a sorrowful Mr Zvashata.

Mr Richard Matimbe concurred with his brother and said feuds were the order of the day in their family.

"I was shocked to hear that my wife of more than 16 years is involved in witchcraft. At times I would have nightmares and will not tell what was happening.

“When all hell broke loose in December, she packed her bags and fled to Masvingo. I tried to stop her, but she remained adamant and if it means a marriage break-up, let it be because I have suffered enough.

"My children are also failing to come to terms with what is happening. They are now the laughing stock of the village. What I am praying for is that she should come back and answer for her sins because running away will not solve anything," he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Abisha were fruitless, as he was still on the run by the time of going to Press.In his ruling, Acting Chief Zimunya said the Matimbes' case was a clear case of witchcraft.

"During the last hearing, one of the aunties testified here that they were being abused by goblins and why is it Abisha ran away when he knows that he is supposed to testify and clear his name? We want peace in this family.

“The snakes and goblins should be burnt by their owners. You should not waste your time consulting n'angas because your case is crystal clear and peace is needed in your family.

"I will also ensure that Gladys Kokera is brought before this court during the next hearing on March 7. If it means locking them up in police cells, let it be because we want to bring this case to its logical conclusion," said Acting Chief Zimunya.