Villagers in Shock as Coffin Box Reopens 15‑Year Marwa Family Rift
Nemashapa Village in Chipinge District was jolted on Sunday when a coffin‑shaped box inscribed with family names was discovered at the Marwa homestead.
The chilling discovery first sent waves of panic through Nemashapa villagers before reopening wounds of a bitter feud that has divided the Marwa clan for more than 15 years.
The box, concealed in a sack, was discovered around 9am at the Marwa homestead.
Inside lay a black dress, a torn blanket, and traditional charm paraphernalia.
A witness, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted, “When I opened it, I saw a white box shaped like a coffin, with one side inscribed ‘Gison Marwa’ and the other ‘Chirandu.’ I was shocked and felt weak in the knees.”
The matter was quickly reported to police before traditional leaders were summoned to intervene.
By Tuesday, villagers young and old crowded the fence of the Marwa homestead, debating the meaning of the mysterious parcel.
Some feared it was a curse, while others suspected it had been planted to intimidate the family.
A local resident explained, “We are in a state of shock because this has never happened before in our area,” describing the mix of fear and speculation that gripped the community.
Family members said the dress and blanket once belonged to their grandmother, who died in 2009, but the items had vanished years before her death.
Tensions in the polygamous household—between siblings from the two branches of the family are longstanding.
Another relative recalled, “I was shocked to see them again.”
The unexpected resurfacing has intensified suspicions that the bitter feud, now more than 15 years old, lies at the heart of the incident.
Traditional healers, armed with knobkerries and healing paraphernalia, arrived at the homestead and performed cleansing rituals before burning the box and its contents.
“This is a case of jealousy and a long‑standing family feud. What is needed in the family is unity, and the Marwas need to reconcile,” said one healer.
The intervention calmed fears among villagers and shifted the focus toward resolving the underlying dispute.
Nemashapa Village head, Mr. Rodgers Nemashapa, said the incident highlighted deep divisions among siblings from a polygamous household.
He explained, “At first, we feared the coffin contained human remains, but after inspection we found only clothes and a blanket. Driven by fear of what the objects might signify, we called in traditional healers, who destroyed them.”
Pastor Davies English observed that the box may have been linked to a ritual involving avenging spirits.
He explained, “That coffin was meant to bring death to the one whose name was written on it. But once it was burnt, the threat ended.”
The incident has left the community unsettled, with many urging reconciliation within the Marwa family to avoid renewed conflict.
A neighbour noted, “The healers advised the Marwa family to unite and resolve their issues amicably.”
In the aftermath, villagers expressed hope that the destruction of the box would bring peace and healing to both the family and the wider community.
-Manicapost
