A peculiar incident in Glen View 1, Harare, has left residents on edge, sparking fears of witchcraft after a tortoise, bizarrely adorned with beads, black cloths, and a hair weave, was spotted wandering around local tuckshops. The sighting has ignited speculation and unease amongst locals, with some suspecting sinister forces at play.
The unusual scene unfolded on Tuesday along Thirty Three Crescent, leaving residents speechless. Mrs. Molline Murambiza (42), a local shop owner, recounted her initial shock: “The tortoise first appeared on Tuesday morning and spent the whole day walking around while people were afraid to touch it. Today, (Wednesday), it was there again, wandering around our tuckshops on Thirty Three Crescent until it eventually went into one of the unused tuckshops.”
The spectacle drew crowds, with onlookers gathering for two days to witness the strange sight. The tortoise, decorated in such an unnatural manner, has fuelled suspicions of dark practices.
Mrs. Murambiza voiced her concerns, stating: “These could be the works of witches because no wild tortoise is dressed with beads and tied with cloths like that. Or sometimes people are trying to intimidate each other over disagreements they had. It is a bad thing for people to use wild animals like that.”
Adding to the mystery, the owner of the tuckshop where the tortoise eventually sought refuge, identified only as Chihera, claimed to know nothing about the incident. “I don’t know anything about this tortoise because I closed my tuckshop a long time ago. I only heard today that it had entered my shop, there’s nothing there, I stopped using this shop a long time ago,” she said.
The incident has clearly unsettled the community. Mrs. Ottillia Mazhindu (39), another resident, expressed her unease: “Mashura chaiwo in our area to see such things, we don’t know if it’s a witch’s tortoise since it’s tied with beads and cloths, truly witches are at work.”
Echoing these sentiments, Mrs. Calex Kamombe (39) said: “We don’t know who threw this tortoise and what their purpose is. We are now living in fear for our lives and the lives of our children.”
The situation took a dramatic turn when Mr. Tafirenyika Maronje (46), a local vendor, discovered the tortoise hiding amongst cardboard boxes in his shop. “I saw that tortoise hiding in here, it had beads and black cloths, it was scary,” he said. As he removed the animal with a stick, onlookers screamed in fear.
Amidst the commotion, accusations flew. One man was overheard claiming that some market and tuckshop women were using muti (traditional medicine) to attract customers.
The situation escalated further when a visibly intoxicated man, known only as Thanx and said to reside on 32 Crescent, arrived and confronted journalists at the scene. He then seized the tortoise, throwing it into the air before kicking and stomping on it, sending the crowd into further panic.
“Why are you taking pictures of me? Get out of here or I’ll get police to arrest you, leave that tortoise alone, what’s wrong with it?” Thanx shouted, before taking the tortoise and heading towards the Glen View 1 Shopping Centre.
The incident has drawn condemnation from traditional leaders. Mr. George Kandiyero, head of the Zinatha (Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association), strongly condemned the abuse of the animal. “Wild animals need to be protected and not abused, people who do this should be reported to the police and arrested,” he said, adding that the organisation was concerned about the increasing abuse of animals such as mipurwa (a type of lizard) and other reptiles.
ZimParks spokesperson, Mr. Tinashe Farawo, reiterated that the abuse of wild animals is a crime and urged the public to report any such incidents to the police.
This bizarre incident highlights a growing concern in Zimbabwe regarding the association of tortoises with witchcraft.
Sithembiso Budzirikawa appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on charges of contravening the Wildlife Act after threatening the Human Resources Manager, claiming she would use the tortoise to get her money. It was later discovered that she had taken the tortoise from a farm without a permit.
Hazvineyi testified that his family suffered from mental illness, which he attributed to witchcraft, claiming it had led to the deaths of his parents. During a cleansing ceremony at Siriro’s home, a prophet discovered the tortoise hidden in his underwear, with old coins attached to its legs. Siriro admitted to using the reptile for sexual gratification, claiming the pain in his leg subsided after it was removed.
These incidents underscore the deeply ingrained beliefs surrounding witchcraft in some communities and the disturbing trend of using animals, particularly tortoises, in these practices.
