A 66-year-old grandmother is in the dock after she allegedly drowned her 10-year-old grandson in a failed cleansing ceremony in Zvishavane.
The source reported that the tragic incident occurred on 20 January 2024 at Village 16 Rupemba Chief Mafala in Zvishavane on Saturday at around 8 PM.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko reported that 66-year-old Senzakupi Nyoni was at home with her 36-year-old daughter Svetukai Muruviri. They were also with Svetukai’s two grandsons, who are under the age of 18.
“Circumstances are that at about 5:30 PM, the suspect, Senzakupi Nyoni (66), was at home with her daughter Svetukai Muruviri (36) and two juvenile grandsons.”
As the four sat in their home, Svetukai’s eldest son plunged into a trance. The child told his mother and granny that his younger sibling, Ropafadzo Tunhai (10), was under attack from evil spirits and needed to be cleansed in water for two straight hours.
Senzakupi then took her youngest grandson to Ngezi River for the cleansing ritual.
“At around 6 PM, the grandmother escorted the boy to Ngezi River, about 500 metres from the homestead, for the cleansing activity.”
However, on getting to the river, the granny immersed her grandson in the water until he drowned and died. Senzakupi took her grandchild’s dead body home and gave it to the mother.
Inspector Mahoko revealed what happened after little Ropafadzo had drowned at Ngezi River during the cleansing ceremony:
“[Svetukai] Muruviri informed the Village head, Moses Msipa (47), and the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene. The body was conveyed to Zvishavane District Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is currently investigating the tragic incident. Senzakupi Nyoni is helping the police probe the death of the 10-year-old child.
Source iHarare
