THE HERALD (Harare, Zimbabwe) 13 May 08 Tragedy strikes at cleansing ceremony
A Cleansing ceremony to remove "goblins" from a client’s farm ended in tragedy when a self-styled prophet was struck by a cobra and died on the way to Chivhu General Hospital last week.
Wonder Matika of Lusaka, Highfield, who was in the company of two other purported prophets — Samuel Taurai (37) and Crispen Muza (38), both of Glen View in Harare — had been asked to remove goblins at Mr Oswald Chidau’s plot in Chivhu.
The goblins, which were said to be in the form of snakes, were believed to be responsible for the death of Mr Chidau’s children.
Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Godfrey Mubaiwa said the prophets had on the first occasion caught a cobra at the Chidaus’ Glen View home, which they did not kill.
"They did not kill the snake there but instead carried it in a sack to Chivhu where they wanted to remove the second one before killing them both," said Asst Insp Mubaiwa.
In Chivhu, Matika was reported to have been bitten by a cobra, measuring about 1,8 metres long, which was in a cupboard, before collapsing.
"He was then taken to Chivhu General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival," Asst Insp Mubaiwa said.
Taurai and Muza later killed the two snakes.
Tragedy strikes at cleansing ceremony