I eat human flesh and I cause many people’s mysterious deaths and sicknesses: Self-confessed witch bares all
In an extraordinary and disturbing confession, a 40-year-old woman from Masvingo has claimed responsibility for causing mysterious deaths and illnesses, including those of her own children, attributing these acts to a witchcraft spirit she says possesses her. In a desperate plea for help, the woman, whose identity is being withheld, has laid bare the horrifying details of her alleged involvement in witchcraft, claiming she is now desperate to escape its clutches.
“My problem is that I am a witch,” she states bluntly. “I am not ashamed to say it because it has robbed me of peace; no one gets along with me, neither from my relatives nor from my husband’s family.”
The woman’s descent into what she describes as a world of darkness began with a series of unsettling dreams. “It started with me dreaming that I was in graveyards, digging up graves and eating human flesh with other witches I didn’t know,” she recounts, her voice trembling as she described the graphic imagery. These dreams, she says, soon became a horrifying reality. “It progressed until I found myself outside the home, in graveyards, with others I practice witchcraft with. These are women I have come to know now, who we live with,” she reveals, painting a chilling picture of her alleged nocturnal activities.
Perhaps the most shocking aspect of her confession is her claim that she consumes human flesh as part of her witchcraft practices. “The human flesh we eat is very disgusting,” she admits, a statement that is sure to send shivers down the spines of anyone who hears it.
Adding to the horror, the woman claims that this witchcraft was inflicted upon her without her knowledge or consent. She alleges that other witches, whom she cannot identify, made incisions on her back, thereby imbuing her with the witchcraft spirit.
The consequences of this alleged affliction have been nothing short of catastrophic. The woman claims to have lost all four of her children, including both infants and older children. Among those she mourns is a child who was preparing to sit for their Form 4 (O-Level) examinations, a loss that she says has left her with unbearable guilt and remorse.
The woman’s confession also sheds light on the social isolation and stigma faced by those accused of witchcraft in Zimbabwe. She says that the witchcraft spirit has alienated her from her community, making it impossible for her to maintain relationships with her relatives and friends. “No one wants to talk to me in the area I come from or where I am married,” she laments, her voice filled with despair.
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The woman’s troubles extend beyond mere social isolation. She claims that she has been subjected to abuse and violence as a result of the accusations against her. “My husband’s uncles beat me with sticks, accusing me of causing people’s deaths and illnesses, and this matter was concealed; it was not reported to the police,” she reveals, highlighting the dangers faced by those accused of witchcraft in some communities. To conceal the true nature of her injuries, she claims she and her husband fabricated a story for the hospital. “I went for treatment claiming that I had been attacked by thugs who beat me, which is what I told the hospital, which my husband agreed with,” she explains.
Haunted by the deaths of her children and fearful for her own life, the woman is now desperate to be free of the witchcraft spirit. “I no longer want this witchcraft spirit and I was given it unknowingly,” she pleads, her voice filled with anguish.
The woman’s extraordinary confession has ignited a debate about the prevalence and impact of witchcraft beliefs in Zimbabwe. While difficult to verify, such beliefs remain deeply entrenched in many rural communities, often leading to social ostracism, abuse, and even death for those accused of practicing it.
George Kandiero, the head of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha), acknowledges the existence of individuals who may be unknowingly involved in witchcraft. “Witchcraft is different,” he explains. “There is hereditary witchcraft, and witchcraft that involves being fed something or having incisions made.”
Kandiero emphasises the distinction between different types of witchcraft, noting that those who inherit the spirit through family lineage are typically aware of their abilities. However, he says that individuals who have had witchcraft inflicted upon them through rituals such as being fed certain substances or having incisions made may be completely unaware of their involvement. “With being fed something or having incisions made, you never know that you are a witch, but with a hereditary witchcraft spirit, a person knows it,” he clarifies.
Given the potential for both intentional and unintentional involvement in witchcraft, Kandiero stresses the importance of spiritual guidance and support. “People should always be helped spiritually, whether at churches or with traditional healers,” he advises, highlighting the need for individuals to seek assistance in understanding and addressing any spiritual concerns they may have.
