Female thief dies after goat bleats in her stomach

Goat

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In an incident that has left Silikwe villagers in Gwanda North dumbfounded, a suspected serial goat thief died after a goat and a rooster bleated and crowed in her stomach.

The woman, only identified as MaTshabalala, reportedly died two weeks ago after falling seriously ill for one week.The Silikwe Village head, Mr Jacob Dube, confirmed the incident, but expressed ignorance of what could have caused the rare condition.

“We buried MaTshabalala two weeks ago after she developed a rare condition which made her bleat like a goat and crow like a rooster.

“I would not know what was the cause of the condition but MaTshabalala was being accused of stealing goats and chickens belonging to other villagers,” said Mr Dube.

He said it was unfortunate that her husband was in South Africa when she fell ill, hence she could not seek help in time.

“Her health quickly deteriorated and she died after a week, but her husband was in South Africa at that time, which made it difficult for her to be ferried to hospital.”

The village head’s wife, Mrs Sandra Dube, said MaTshabalala obviously died due to her stealing escapades.

“Kanti ungakhala imbuzi lenkukhu esiswini njani mntanami wena ungatshontshanga? MaTshabalala was bewitched because she was stealing other people’s livestock,” said Mrs Dube.

According to a neighbour who nursed MaTshabalala before she died, sounds of a bleating goat and a crowing rooster were heard coming from the woman’s stomach.

“We actually heard sounds of a goat bleating and a rooster crowing in MaTshabalala’s stomach, but she did not confess that she had been stealing other people’s livestock.

“We could not take her to hospital because there was no money and her husband was in South Africa at that time and she died after one week,” said the neighbour.

The neighbour, however, said taking MaTshabalala to hospital was not going to help.

“MaTshabalala’s illness was a sign of witchcraft and going to hospital was going to make her condition worse.

“Maybe a good inyanga was going to help but the two inyangas that we approached had failed,” said the neighbour.

However, no comment could be obtained from the woman’s family as MaTshabalala’s husband and their three children had visited a relative when Chronicle visited the homestead.

The family did not make a report to the police. A few months ago, a 41-year-old man from Ngoma village in Gwanda South, suspected of stealing 11 head of cattle, died after suffering from a mysterious disease. His stomach swelled and he produced a bellowing sound before he died while admitted to a hospital.