Grand mother caught exhuming grant son from grave

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Chronicle 06 September, 2010 11:29:00

digging grave

A WOMAN from Chirumanzu courted the wrath of the law when she labelled her mother a witch after she allegedly discovered her digging on the grave of her son last week.

The woman, Anatoria Muchanya (38), of Vhudzi village, Headman Mapuranga, Chief Chirumanzu alleged that her son, aged two years at that time, died under unclear circumstances in August.

Consequently she was not amused by her mother’s actions of digging her son’s grave and started insulting her, calling her all sorts of names, including labelling her a witch.

Muchanya was yesterday arraigned before magistrate, Mr Meo Rubwe who found her guilty and sentenced her to 12 months in prison for her utterances.
Six months of her sentence was suspended on condition that she does 210 hours of community service at Vhudzi Primary School in her home area.
The other six months were suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.

It is the State’s case as presented by Ms Nomanguni Mabasa that on 27 August this year, Muchanya found her mother, Mrs Tecla Tapfuma, digging her two-year-old son’s grave.

Ms Mabasa said this did not go down well with Muchanya who pointed an accusing finger at the complainant, Mrs Tapfuma, labelling her a witch.
Muchanya and Mrs Tapfuma are daughter and mother respectively.

Ms Mabasa said Muchanya also pointed out that Mrs Tapfuma who stays at a nearby homestead to Muchanya’s, should not set her foot again at her house as she was a witch.

Ms Mabasa said Muchanya further alleged that her mother owned a satanic church in Gweru where she produced more witches and wizards by making them drink people’s blood.

The court heard that Muchanya further told her mother that she owned some goblins, which she allegedly used to kill her (Muchanya’s) child. Ms Mabasa said Muchanya told the complainant that she was digging the grave of her child with the intention of exhuming the body and eating it. Mrs Tapfuma later reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of Muchanya.