Goblin Drama Rocks Makoni
...as villager takes Chief to court over ‘cleansing’ ruling
A Makoni villager has taken the extraordinary step of challenging a traditional court’s ruling that found him guilty of owning goblins said to have made his neighbour’s daughter sick.
Tawa Sanhani was convicted by Chief Makoni’s community court and ordered to pay a hefty penalty three cattle, three goats, and US$100 to fund a cleansing ceremony allegedly meant to rid his homestead of the supernatural creatures.
But Sanhani, represented by lawyer Tendai Bvuma, is not taking the judgment lying down.
He has lodged an appeal at the Rusape Civil Court, arguing that the traditional court’s decision was based on superstition rather than evidence.
“The community erred at law in using duress and undue influence to force the appellant to admit to purely malicious and unfounded claims,” reads part of his court application.
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“There was no proof whatsoever that any goblins existed or that they caused the sickness.”
According to court papers, the initial ruling linked Sanhani to the mysterious illness of Esnara Soda’s daughter, allegedly triggered by the goblins he is accused of obtaining from a controversial Nyanga-based traditional healer.
Soda, in her response, insists the matter belongs in the community court where, she says, spirit mediums can detect the truth.
“The chief relied on traditional healers to consult the spirits, and the appellant agreed that he possessed the goblin which is now causing illness to my daughter,” she claimed.
She further argued that ordinary courts have no jurisdiction over spiritual matters.
According to H-Metro, such cases have become increasingly common in Manicaland, where villagers continue to turn to traditional courts for resolutions involving alleged witchcraft and spiritual harm.
The Rusape Civil Court is yet to assign a magistrate and trial date for the case.
