Ten Graves, One Family: Rukowa Clan Battles Deadly Post-Marriage Mystery

In Honde Valley, a disturbing pattern has turned joy into grief. More than ten young women from the Rukowa family have died mysteriously — most within a year of marriage, some while pregnant.

The unexplained deaths have sparked fear, spiritual confusion, and bitter divisions.

Now, the family has taken its pain to Chief Mutasa’s court, desperate for answers before another daughter is buried.

At the hearing, Johane Rukowa, a concerned family member, said nearly all the women in their lineage had died shortly after marriage.

“As we speak, one of our surviving aunties is bedridden, and we fear that she might die just like other sisters. Our brothers and fathers are ignoring it, and not helping the family.

“Recently, one of our sisters passed away, and she was only a year into marriage,” he said.

He added that despite consulting prophets from various apostolic sects, the deaths had continued.

“Our brothers have consulted healers at their different apostolic churches.

“As a son, and as I represent the family today, we need help so that our sisters and aunties stop dying,” Johane said.

Simon Rutowa, Johane’s uncle, said the family’s name had become a warning in Honde Valley.

“They are now saying you should not marry women from the Rukowa family because they die like flies,” he said.

Simon believes the tragedy may be linked to an unresolved ancestral debt.

According to family elders, their great-grandfather once used his grandchild’s wealth and promised to repay it with a girl child — a promise that was never fulfilled.

“We were told that our great-grandfather used his grandchild’s wealth and promised to compensate him with a girl child.

“He was never paid, and up to now, the family girls are dying.

“Our fathers are turning a deaf ear, but we have consulted the family of the so-called nephew, and they confirmed that this happened. As we speak, 10 girls from the family died only a year after their marriage,” Simon explained.

Solomon Rutowa confirmed the account and expressed frustration over the elders’ refusal to support efforts to consult spiritual healers.

“Our fathers are refusing to consult healers with us. We have reached a point where we are willing to consult even a traditional healer as a family.

“We know that this is against our church doctrine, but we just want peace, and to save the lives of our daughters,” he said.

Another family member, Noah Rutowa, said several church prophets had hinted that the elders were withholding critical information.

“Spiritual healers told us that our fathers know something behind our sisters’ mysterious deaths, but they all deny it,” he said.

Chief Mutasa urged the family to act with urgency and unity.

“You cannot continue to lose your daughters and pretend that nothing is wrong. Whether you are members of apostolic sects or not, you must unite and seek lasting solutions together as a family,” he said.

He advised them to reconnect with ancestral spirits and resolve any unsettled debts through lawful means.

“If there is a spirit that feels cheated, negotiate with it and pay through beasts, not people. In this country, the use of a girl child as an appeasement was outlawed.

“If it is true that your ancestor promised a girl child as compensation, then the proper way now is to offer cattle or goats in reparation,” said Chief Mutasa.

He emphasized that only collective action would bring peace.

“Do not go in small groups. Go together as a family so that you get the same answers. Only unity can bring peace to your household,” he said.

The story has stirred widespread concern across the region.

As the Rukowa family stands at a crossroads, the community watches closely — hoping that truth, healing, and justice will finally prevail.

-Manicapost